How to Build a Folding Kayak Seat

A folding kayak seat gives adjustability and folds up neatly for portaging a boat. One major benefit to a folding kayak seat is the ability to adjust it when upright to meet your body's needs. This makes a handsome solution if you have back issues. If you are like most kayakers, you probably have a closet full of old and discarded gear. Use some of this old gear to fashion a kayak seat that folds up for portaging and lets you paddle and reduce stress on your back.

Things You'll Need

  • Discarded camp chair
  • Measuring tape
  • Closed cell foam block
  • Utility knife
  • Glue
  • Power drill with 1/2-inch bit
  • One inch bolts (1/2-inch diameter with washers)
  • Silicone caulk and caulk gun
  • Gel padding
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the existing seat in your kayak for width and length. Measure the depth of your kayak cockpit and the width and height.

    • 2

      Cut out a piece of the foam block in the width and length of your measurements. Make clean cuts on the foam with a utility knife. Place it into the cockpit and check that it fits onto the hull of the boat when in the paddler's cockpit. Pull it back out.

    • 3

      Place the discarded camp chair onto the foam block. It is important that you use a camp chair that is made of closed cell foam and covered in nylon. The chair needs to rest flush with the foam so that the center of gravity in the kayak remains low when sitting in the boat.

      Use camp chairs that fold down like a sleeping pad, not camp chairs that have legs or feet. Glue the bottom of the camp chair onto the foam block.

    • 4

      Slide the combined chair-foam combo down into the cockpit. Slide it back with the chair's seat back up against the back of the cockpit. Mark the sides of the kayak where the seat back-straps meet the sides of the hull. Drill a 1/2-inch hole on both sides of the cockpit where the back-straps meet the hull (where marked). Punch 1/2-inch holes through the back-straps so that they align with the holes along the cockpit.

    • 5

      Push the seat straps up against the holes and screw the 1/2-inch bolts through the hull and strap. Place a washer against the strap holes and tighten it down with the nut, locking both sides of the seat to the kayak's hull. Push the seat back up and down to ensure that it folds as needed.

    • 6

      Caulk the drilled holes on the hull on both sides and inside and out to provide a watertight seal. Let the caulk dry.

    • 7

      Sit in the seat and pull the nylon seat straps to adjust to your back and body preference for paddling. When ready to fold, slide the nylon straps out of the sliders and fold the chair down and into the kayak cockpit. Add gel padding to the seat bottom to give the seat softer contact points with the legs, if you prefer.