Does anyone have any experience/advice to help in deciding between a fixed or sliding bow bucket seat?  I am getting a kevlar Wenonah Escape.

I've always paddled in the stern while in the BWCA and Quetico, so I don't really have bow experience.  But I know my paddling partners have commented that the rails from a slider restrict leg space.  Most people who would be paddling bow in my boat are all about the same size (6 feet 180 or so).  

I know that the sliding bow is there for trim adjustment and is generally standard nowadays, but I figure that shifting gear around could take care of that, and getting a fixed bow seat could open up some more space up front.

I also know I don't want to go for a bigger canoe to get more space.  Any help?  Suggestions? Thanks!

My vote is for the fixed seat. I had a slider in my Sawyer Cruiser for 27 years and it has never moved. It always seems to make more sense to adjust the load.

Thanks...I'm thinking the same thing.  I can see myself not moving it for years, too, but I just wanted to see what others thought.

I have a slider. We used it once in a while. Stern person can shift weight considerably by kneeling but you can't kneel in the bow very well. A couple of inches makes a big difference and I hated kneeling. I had it forward a bit one year with an 80# bow paddler. It would take serious pack shifting to accomplish the same thing.

I like the Wenonah sliders- make it easy to adjust your trim on the fly. I have a slider in my big Sawyer cruiser (a 222) but the rails aren't long enough to make it useful, the wenonah slider has much greater range.

A slider is nice to adjust trim on the fly. Saves one from having to due the "paddle shove'' to a wedged pack on the fly in changing conditions. Personally I have not noticed the leg room issue, but I don't care much for the rivets through the hull eating the shoulder on my paddle blades-but they're there regardless. And I still knee, but that is just me.