Does anyone remove the stern seat on a tandem to use as a solo and expand capacity?
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Removing The Stern Seat
- Thread starter Black_Fly
- Start date
After buying my canoe I was very happy at first. But after my first trip, I wasn't quite so happy anymore. I painfully realized that I couldn't paddle the two-person canoe very well on my own with luggage and food for a multi-day trip. The trim didn't work at all, and worst of all for me, I was sitting too far back. Steering the loaded boat was very difficult for me.
So far, so good.
After this experience, I removed the stern seat and turned the carrying yoke around. I moved the bow seat further into the middle of the boat and now paddle the canoe “backwards.” This works very well because the canoe has a symmetrical hull shape.
Since then, I have a much better seating position as the solo driver in your tandem boat and I have better space distribution for all my luggage.
I am very happy with my solution.
just have a look to Wilma ...
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loadet ...
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may you have a closer look to this
So far, so good.
After this experience, I removed the stern seat and turned the carrying yoke around. I moved the bow seat further into the middle of the boat and now paddle the canoe “backwards.” This works very well because the canoe has a symmetrical hull shape.
Since then, I have a much better seating position as the solo driver in your tandem boat and I have better space distribution for all my luggage.
I am very happy with my solution.
just have a look to Wilma ...
. . loadet ...
. . . . may you have a closer look to this
outfitting ~ Old Town Discovery ~
here it is ... last year in November I bought an Old Town Discovery in excellent condition. Canoe Oldtown Discovery 146 Build in: 1997 Length: 4,40 m Width: approx. 90 cm Weight: approx. 30 kg (rather more) . . . . and sure - it had to be washed first after the transfer. . ...
www.canoetripping.net
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I would encourage you to paddle from the stern seat. With a loaded boat you should be able to get a trim that'll work for you, while enjoying the most efficient paddling position in the boat.
How far forward did you move the seat, and does the yoke hit your knees getting in/out?
As you can see in the picture, I moved the new bench one seat width toward the center. This meant I only had to drill two new holes in the gunwale. The seat is now perfectly positioned for me, so that my knees don't touch the yoke when I'm sitting down.
I can see how it would be easier to trim. No problems with wind? Do you stap the load on top of the bow seat? That could expand the load capability, I think. I’m trying to imagine it with my pup in there and 3 large packs. If you have a photo of your canoe loaded that would be awesome.
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When the Prospector was the only canoe I had, I replaced the thwart behind the yoke with a kneeling thwart. I eventually removed the bow and stern seats for solo paddling and poling. That not only allowed more room for gear (sometimes not just my own gear), but also left more room for big float bags when needed.
My Coho has never had any seat. If I'm not standing, I'm kneeling and straddling a movable foam saddle/kneepad combination.
My Coho has never had any seat. If I'm not standing, I'm kneeling and straddling a movable foam saddle/kneepad combination.
Out of curiosity what boat are you going to be using? By switching to the stern seat you may pick up enough cargo space that you can leave the bow seat in. You will pick up cargo area just by switching to the stern seat. When you're in the bow seat backwards position your legs are taking up half your main cargo area. In the stern seat your legs take up less valuable space. It would also be a good idea to leave it in because you may want to use it when your empty or fishing or in a blustery type wind.
If you are going to paddle from the stern seat you'll need to use a bow light trim. A level trim resists turning and will be difficult from the stern. That's probably why Kahel had an issue. You have to balance maneuverability with straight tracking. If the wind is blowing my bow around, sliding a pack forward usually is enough to fix it. In a very strong wind I may need to jump forward to the stern thwart for a short time to flatten the trim.
I do think if you can get this tripping from the stern down it will make covering miles a lot easier and your shoulders will thank you for it. I don't think you'll ever go back to bow backwards. I know I never will and I'd soloed from the bow seat for over thirty years.
The problem is trying it pre-trip. It will require math, and several water jugs but I’ve got a few months to prepare. It makes perfect sense that I’ld gain volume. Do you remain in the stern crossing big water?
I’ll be paddling an Esquif Prospecteur 15 in T-Formex. Black Friday was too much to resist. At 60 lbs, it’s going to be a lot to flip up. I liked my NC P15. Always paddled solo from the bow seat. I had a Wenonah P16 in royalex that my wife and I tripped in. That was before I ever got into Kevlar. It was a beast to carry. I was younger then. I played around a little using it solo, fished alone unloaded. I found it really didn’t need any trim whatsoever from the bow seat.
I’ll be paddling an Esquif Prospecteur 15 in T-Formex. Black Friday was too much to resist. At 60 lbs, it’s going to be a lot to flip up. I liked my NC P15. Always paddled solo from the bow seat. I had a Wenonah P16 in royalex that my wife and I tripped in. That was before I ever got into Kevlar. It was a beast to carry. I was younger then. I played around a little using it solo, fished alone unloaded. I found it really didn’t need any trim whatsoever from the bow seat.
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Good photo, I like your trim.
I never tried it in a 15 foot boat but if the boat is stable with two people then it should work. It may notl work from the stern seat when empty though. As long as you still have both seats in you can try loading it both ways when you are out there to see what works best.
I never tried it in a 15 foot boat but if the boat is stable with two people then it should work. It may notl work from the stern seat when empty though. As long as you still have both seats in you can try loading it both ways when you are out there to see what works best.
