Sitting on the floor?

[Asche]

I've been looking, but haven't had much luck as of yet, are there any folding seats designed to sit on the floor of a canoe? Everything I seem to find seems to be geared toward attaching to the existing seats. It's the easiest position for my back/knees, staying in a kneeling position for long causes too many issues, and the bench seats are just too high making it a challenge when in the canoe with anyone else. Just been trying to find something a bit more comfortable, and with less rivets than the aluminum hull.

 

[Tryin']

I have seen a few in my travels. Comes down to what you are willing to give up. So, a few questions:

How portable? Permanent, backpacker portable, or remove-for-transport portable?

Price ceiling?

Weight ceiling?

Height above floor?

There are a lot of options, but they get narrow pretty fast. If you are looking for what I think you are, I would direct you to look at various packboat seating options.

 

[RickR]

Check out cooscanoeandsnowshoe.com Bill is a terrific craftsman and super nice guy. He makes a nice folding canoe seat.

 

[Erica]

We had a thread on that topic some years ago. I did a rudimentary search on the topic, but did not find it. Perhaps someone more skilled than I can find it.

What I recall is there was a super wooden seat, with a back, that a daughter used to sit when in the canoe and around the fire when in camp. Does anyone else remember this? I was quite taken with it.

 

[Cheeseandbeans]

What I recall is there was a super wooden seat, with a back, that a daughter used to sit when in the canoe and around the fire when in camp. Does anyone else remember this? I was quite taken with it.

I remember that as well. It was nice. I am not able to locate it either.

I built this a few years ago for a skin on frame canoe. It is lightweight, folds, works in camp, but is bulky for portaging in my opinion.



Bob

 

[Boatman53]

A friend of mine gave me this a while ago but never felt the need to sit that low. After storing it for years in the shop (measurable dust) I finally passed it along before we moved.




I took photos in case I ever needed to replicate it.
Jim

 

[Boreal Birch]

RickR’s snowshoe guy in Lancaster, NH, looks to be a good bet. I’m thinking of buying one just for sitting out a rainy evening in my Scandinavian Lavuu, with a good book.
I have two snowshoe chairs from the old snowshoe company Tubbs, that are still going strong since 1976. I would think these are even better.

 

[goonstroke]

I have a folding canoe chair from Cabela's that sits on the bottom of the hull. I can't find a picture of it, and I can't find it on Cabela's current site, but it's aluminum tubing like a 70's lawn chair, but with padding on the lower tubing so it sits well against the hull and doesn't dent it.

 

[tketcham]

"...are there any folding seats designed to sit on the floor of a canoe? Everything I seem to find seems to be geared toward attaching to the existing seats."

I found this chair from Canoeing.com. Not inexpensive but it looks like it'll last and be easy to repair when it needs some maintenance.
https://canoeing.com/product/harmony-folding-cane-canoe-chair/

 

[JohnSand]

I'm interested in this too. In my 15'x28" lapstrake canoe, I use a soft folding seat that has no frame, or an old Folbot seat, foam cushions with fabric cover. A strap through the gunwales keeps it upright. The biggest shortcoming of these is that they are not easy to shift while underway. On Monday I used an old wood frame stadium seat in my cedar canoe. That was easier to shift fore and aft, but a little too upright for my taste. (I was sailing) When I shifted my weight forward on the seat, I cracked one slat. Now I'm thinking of an adjustable wooden backrest and sit on a cushion. The Hugh Horton Bufflehead canoe plans have a seat designed to adjust and work in the boat or on the beach, but it's not simple. If I work out anything better, I'll share it here.

 

[billconner]

Too bad Swift doesn't sell it's pack seats. Oh so comfortable.

 

[Jatfomike]

Essex Industries makes a nice looking foldable wood seat......I have purchased parts from them in the past and found their products and customer service to be quite good.

Essex Industries foldable seat

Mike

 

[Asche]

I have seen a few in my travels. Comes down to what you are willing to give up. So, a few questions:

How portable? Permanent, backpacker portable, or remove-for-transport portable?

Price ceiling?

Weight ceiling?

Height above floor?

There are a lot of options, but they get narrow pretty fast. If you are looking for what I think you are, I would direct you to look at various packboat seating options.

For portability, just need to take it off for transport, weight and height are less of a concern, as I am not taking it anywhere that requires a lot of carrying. Price is not a huge factor, but will depend on what the seats offer. I haven't been able to find any options at all to even have a base point. I see some possible ideas/options in this thread though that I had not found at all.

 

[Ralph]

I know that Clipper Canoes (Western Canoeing and Kayaking) ( https://westerncanoekayak.com/ ) has quite an extensive catalog of accessories so I had a look. They have a number of possibilities which are probably available at other places, too.
Big Comfort Chair - https://westerncanoekayak.com/gci-big-comfort-chair/
Everywhere Chair - https://westerncanoekayak.com/everywhere-chair/
Sit Backer - https://westerncanoekayak.com/sit-backer-chair/
Spring Creek Drop in chair - https://westerncanoekayak.com/sit-backer-chair/
Fishing seat - https://westerncanoekayak.com/fishing-seat-for-inflatable-kayaks/
Aquaglide frame chair - https://westerncanoekayak.com/aquaglide-ag-frame-seat/
Aquaglide proformance seat - https://westerncanoekayak.com/aquaglide-proformance-seat-chelan/
Nimbus Creature Comfort Low Back seat - https://westerncanoekayak.com/nimbus-creature-comfort-low-back-seat-kit/
Nimbus Creature Comfort High Back seat - https://westerncanoekayak.com/nimbus-creature-comfort-high-back-seat-kit/
Foam Flotation Seat - https://westerncanoekayak.com/nimbus-creature-comfort-high-back-seat-kit/
Aquaglide Core Seat - https://westerncanoekayak.com/core-seat-for-aquaglide-kayaks/
Harmony Gear Kids Seat - https://westerncanoekayak.com/kids-seat/

Hope this helps,
Have fun!

 

[billconner]

nice review! lots of choices.

 

[alsg]

Gil Gilpatrick has a design for a folding canoe chair you can build in his Building Outdoor Gear book.

Gil Gilpatrick's Outdoor Books - Building Oudoor Gear