Does anyone know who makes this seat?
http://www.zeroglitch.org/photo.JPG
Pedestal question
Moderators: kenneth, sbroam, TheKrikkitWars, Mike W., Sir Adam, KNeal, PAC, adamin
Re: Pedestal question
No. It could be an old manufactured pedestal, or a carefully made and smoothed home-built.
I like the knee wedges, though I might make them higher to partly contact the thighs.
The seat is rather narrow. I widen my seats to about 10 inches, by gluing on additional slabs of minicell. The seat width tapers quickly where the thighs drop down along the pedestal. Even kneeling, a wider pedestal gives more support and comfort, and if there isn't a thwart in the way, it can be possible to swing the legs forward and sit on quieter sections of river.
I like the knee wedges, though I might make them higher to partly contact the thighs.
The seat is rather narrow. I widen my seats to about 10 inches, by gluing on additional slabs of minicell. The seat width tapers quickly where the thighs drop down along the pedestal. Even kneeling, a wider pedestal gives more support and comfort, and if there isn't a thwart in the way, it can be possible to swing the legs forward and sit on quieter sections of river.
-
Yukon
- Yukan Canoe
- Posts: 391
- Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:27 pm
- Location: Whitehorse, Yukon,Canada
- Contact:
Re: Pedestal question
That looks like an old Bob Foote Saddle or one he marketed years ago as a lighter version of a plastic one he used to sell.
Canoe Instructor and full time canoe fanatic.
Re: Pedestal question
Yeah, it is a Bob Foote minicell pedestal.
Re: Pedestal question
Thank you for the replies. Now that I found out I can't get another easily or cheaply. I found something similar for $129 (http://www.northwater.com/html/products ... addle.html), I just don't want to spend that kind of money. I want to raise the seat in my current boat up 1.25 inches. Would it be better to add foam to the top or bottom and do you have to use minicell foam?
thanks in adavance,
jamie
thanks in adavance,
jamie
Re: Pedestal question
I would probably use about an inch of minicell, topped by a quarter inch of the tougher neoprene foam. Try to shape the base of your existing seat so that, once the foam layers are added, shear forces at the glue line are minimized. When subjected to shear forces, minicell has a way of gradually giving way right next to the glue line.
One thing you can do to help your added seat layers stay in place, is to lay some fabric over the top and down the sides, painting it in place with contact cement. You don't need to coat both surfaces, just pin the cloth over the foam and paint contact cement over it. It will firm up the seat surface a bit.
As for what cloth to use, I have old polyester and Nylon boat cloth. But you could use any polyester or Nylon cloth that you can salvage from some other use. A somewhat open weave that allows the contact cement to penetrate would be best.
Don't add the cloth until you have the seat at the height, and of the shape, that suits you.
One thing you can do to help your added seat layers stay in place, is to lay some fabric over the top and down the sides, painting it in place with contact cement. You don't need to coat both surfaces, just pin the cloth over the foam and paint contact cement over it. It will firm up the seat surface a bit.
As for what cloth to use, I have old polyester and Nylon boat cloth. But you could use any polyester or Nylon cloth that you can salvage from some other use. A somewhat open weave that allows the contact cement to penetrate would be best.
Don't add the cloth until you have the seat at the height, and of the shape, that suits you.
Re: Pedestal question
[quote="foofooboy"]Thank you for the replies. Now that I found out I can't get another easily or cheaply. I found something similar for $129 (http://www.northwater.com/html/products ... addle.html), I just don't want to spend that kind of money. I want to raise the seat in my current boat up 1.25 inches. Would it be better to add foam to the top or bottom and do you have to use minicell foam?
thanks in adavance,
jamie[/quote
I have found it easiest to add foam to the bottom. Granted, this does require loosening the pedestal from the hull, assuming it is currently glued in, but that is pretty easily done by using a thin bladed paint scraper or putty knife to work the saddle up off the hull. Since you are going to glue the saddle back in the same position (presumably) there is no need to get the minicell/contact cement residue up off the hull.
Once you have the saddle loose it is a relatively simple matter to trace an outline of its bottom on to whatever type of foam you want to use to block it up. Minicell is best, but Ethafoam would also work. Even Styrofoam would probably work (although I hate Styrofoam). Cut out a piece of foam of appropriate thickness and glue it to the bottom of your existing saddle with contact cement like DAP Weldwood. Then glue the whole shebang back in the same position in the boat with the same adhesive. You need to use multiple coats of contact cement on foam because it soaks in a good bit.
Sure, you can add foam to the top of your saddle, but if you glue a piece of foam 1 1/2" thick to the curved top of your saddle, you will tend to move your seating position forward in the boat. It is also a little harder to shape and bond a curved piece of foam to fit the pedestal top than it is to cut and bond a relatively flat piece to the pedestal base. But either way can work.
thanks in adavance,
jamie[/quote
I have found it easiest to add foam to the bottom. Granted, this does require loosening the pedestal from the hull, assuming it is currently glued in, but that is pretty easily done by using a thin bladed paint scraper or putty knife to work the saddle up off the hull. Since you are going to glue the saddle back in the same position (presumably) there is no need to get the minicell/contact cement residue up off the hull.
Once you have the saddle loose it is a relatively simple matter to trace an outline of its bottom on to whatever type of foam you want to use to block it up. Minicell is best, but Ethafoam would also work. Even Styrofoam would probably work (although I hate Styrofoam). Cut out a piece of foam of appropriate thickness and glue it to the bottom of your existing saddle with contact cement like DAP Weldwood. Then glue the whole shebang back in the same position in the boat with the same adhesive. You need to use multiple coats of contact cement on foam because it soaks in a good bit.
Sure, you can add foam to the top of your saddle, but if you glue a piece of foam 1 1/2" thick to the curved top of your saddle, you will tend to move your seating position forward in the boat. It is also a little harder to shape and bond a curved piece of foam to fit the pedestal top than it is to cut and bond a relatively flat piece to the pedestal base. But either way can work.
Re: Pedestal question
Good idea to add to bottom in some circumstances. But that Foote saddle has a bad contour anyway, so I'd correct it and then add to the top.
I must be a financial fool, because I designed and made a much better foam pedestal in 1973. I should be rich by now.
I must be a financial fool, because I designed and made a much better foam pedestal in 1973. I should be rich by now.