Homemade Canoe Seat

If you are building a canoe by hand or repairing a damaged one, mounting the canoe seats is an important part of the project. There is a way to create a canoe seat that provides a comfortable and attractive design for outdoors enthusiasts.

  1. Frame

    • Start the project by cutting two 1-inch-by-4-inch pressure-treated boards the width of the inside of the hull at the height and in the position where you want to put the seat. Trim the edges of the board to the shape of the curve of the hull. The two frame boards are screwed to the hull from the outside. Use rubber sealant around the screw hole and use a washer to protect the hole from splitting. Use a waterproof epoxy on the inside between the hull and the 1-by-4 frame board. Attach the two frame boards 8 inches apart and high enough for a paddler to tuck feet underneath the frame. The bow seat needs to be farther from the bow than the stern seat is from the stern. The bow paddler needs plenty of leg room. Measure the positions of the seats in a similar-size canoe to get the proper placement.

    The Seat

    • Cut a 1/2 inch piece of plywood 8 inches wide and 2 inches shorter in length than the width of the frame boards. Use a router to round the edges all around the top. Cut a series of 4 inch long slots running from 2 inches behind the front edge of the seat to 2 inches in front of the back edge. Drill holes at either end of the slot to allow you to insert a saber saw blade through the seat to cut the slots. Make the slots 2 or 3 inches apart as desired. The slots will drain water from the seat when paddling.

    Attaching the Seat

    • Run a bead of waterproof glue along the top of both frame pieces. Lay the seats on top and let the glue dry and cure. Drill and inset three screws along the front edge of the seats into their frames and along the back edge of the seats. Fill the screw holes with wood filler, then sand, stain and varnish the frames and seats.