How to Design a Seat for a Sea Kayak

A kayak seat needs to accomplish three goals. First, make it comfortable enough for long paddles and back support; second, the seat needs the proper height so when you sit down, the kayak's stability curve is not affected in a negative way; three, it needs to fit your bottom and the space within the cockpit of the boat. The seat is a simple piece of gear, but attention the several of the kayaks stability points is needed when installing the seat itself.

Things You'll Need

  • Kayak specs from the maker - found in the user guide or promotional materials
  • Your accurate height
  • Closed cell foam pads
  • Nylon straps
  • Marine epoxy
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take your height standing upright without stretching. Sit in the kayak while on the ground and have a friend measure the distance from the cockpit combing (edge of the cockpit) to the top of your head.

    • 2

      Place the kayak into the water (in the shallows so you wade out to it) and stand at the front of the boat and begin to rock it and tip it sideways. Watch the water line against the kayak hull. Press down to tip the kayak up onto the rocker -- the side of the kayak - and stop just short of the point where the kayak would flip and fill with water.

    • 3

      Get into the kayak and go into the water. Begin to tip the kayak side to side with you in it. Feel with your weight where the "stability curve" of the kayak rests. This is the curve that goes from extremely stable (kayak near upright) to the very edge of the tipping point when the kayak is near on its side.

    • 4

      Slide foam pads onto the bottom of the cockpit and go back into the water, sitting on the foam so you have a higher center of gravity. Tip the kayak side to side and see how the higher center of gravity lessens the tipping point. Your height means you need to find the sweet spot by removing or adding extra foam pads. Find the most comfortable position while maintaining the kayak's stability.

    • 5

      Measure the height of the foam pads and subtract around 1/2 inch for the pad compression. This is the highest distance the seat rests above the cockpit floor.

    • 6

      Measure out your choice of open or closed cell foam and cut it out to your bottom. Open cell foam absorbs water but is lighter, whereas closed cell foam is water resistant but heavier. Cut out a backrest from hard plastic sheets and use nylon webbing to connect the two. Attach the seat to the bottom of the kayak with marine epoxy.