I had never tried sitting much less paddling in a tractor seat until my recent experience with the Expedition canoe which comes thusly equipped. I couldn't believe how much more comfortable I was. What was especially surprising was that even after long days paddling I never had any back issues........alleviating the need for a back rest (which consequently robs you of some power on your stroke).

Anyway.....it might not be for everybody but I'm certainly converted and am now looking into equipping my solo with one. The seat offered by Zav looks particularly interesting with the raised rear lip of sorts (furthering back support). If you haven't tried one and your rear gets sore you might give it a whirl.

  (You need to Login or Register

I like the bucket better also. I converted my Magic to a sliding bucket.  It does not slide very easy (Aluminum on Aluminum) but is real nice on those windy days when you need to shift weight.

All very interesting, and possibly helpful to curing my serious case of butt-itis, which developed once again on a recent trip to Lac La Croix.  I have a Bell Northwoods with some kind of hatched netting.  Incredibly uncomfortable.  I wonder if I adapt my Bell to a tractor seat?  I've got to do something, or gain about 20 pounds of butt-fat as a cushion!

prouboy

Use some contact cement to glue some closed cell foam onto those tractor seats too.

MP, Try a bit of sun screen on those tubes. You only want it easier to move, not too loose.

Tractor seats are better than cane or web for sitting, but kneeling is better for the body.  When sitting, the abs, lower- and mid-back, and hip flexors work overtime to keep you upright.  When kneeling, the strong muscles - glutes, quads and hamstrings - do the work.

Of course, there's that niggling little issue of the knees and ankles, but shifting position occasionally takes care of that.

I use strap-on knee pads made for baseball players.  They cover above, below, and on the kneecap.  I don't even notice them on portages.

Dave

I much prefer a bucket. That and a foot brace locks me in and makes me one with the canoe.

That said, the seat I used last, solo, was a sliding web. It moved easily when I took the weight off. I wish it would have been placed farther back but the thing I really liked was I could change the angle. My back does not like sitting in a canoe for extended periods of time. One day on a whim, I raised the back of the seat. My back was a LOT happier. It was maybe only a 5° angle and I never tried it the other way because if my back isn't complaining I'm a happy camper.

That canoe was nice because I could paddle on either side as long as I wanted and the seat was high and so I could easily tuck a foot under it and half kneel. That helps keep my knees and back happy too.

I prefer the bucket seat.  The bucket seat supplies more support and my back doesn't get as tired as with a bench seat.  Also a bucket seat keeps you centered.  This is especially import if you have  a tandem.  With a bucket in the front, I don't have to tell the person in front to move to the right or left as much.  You can buy padded seat for bucket seats.

Westwood wrote on Sep 24^th, 2012 at 2:45am:

With a bucket in the front, I don't have to tell the person in front to move to the right or left as much.

Lean straight!  ;D

Quote:

One day on a whim, I raised the back of the seat. My back was a LOT happier. It was maybe only a 5° angle and I never tried it the other way because if my back isn't complaining I'm a happy camper.

I find the same thing. On most bench seats, the front of the seat is putting pressure on your hamstrings.
Much of lower back pain is because of or along with tight hamstrings. Sitting in a canoe for hours doesn't help keep them (hamstrings) loose.

That little angle makes a world of difference. If you have a power adjustable seat in your car and find that on long drives your lower back or sciatic nerve is giving you fits, tilt the seat forward just enough so when your feet are flat on floor, there is no contact with front edge of seat and adjust the lumbar support if you have one to support the natural curve of your lower spine.If you don't have that feature, they make driving pillows just for this purpose.

It might make all the difference between arriving with your back feeling good or tight and sore.

I'm getting some mixed reviews on the tractor seats!  I hear from many that they're comfortable, but I also hear you can't move around much, they're hot, and you can't get a good angle for paddling hard.  Has anyone tried this for a little added butt protection and comfort on the standard bench canoe seats?   (You need to Login or Register

prouboy

I suppose comfort level might have lots to do with anatomy. My guess is "flatties" might like the padded bench seat a bit more  ;D.

As far as power on the stroke goes.......interesting thoughts. I like what DB had to say about foot braces. On the Expedition canoe I had foot controlled rudder which certainly acted like a foot brace. Instead of a decline of power with the Tractor seat I felt whole lots stronger without any back issues. Mucho better and I intent to reconfigure my other solo likewise. Probably the trick would be to try one out for a week or two and then decide.

I have canoes that have both types of seats and I have done extensive tripping using both kinds of seats.
I much prefer the flat webbed seats. I like the simplicity, breathability, drainability, the inherent cushioning and I like that a paddler can move a little side to side to adjust for a slightly off trim load. I understand the back support idea but I think that a back rest is just compensation for weak back and core muscles. The better conditioned your core muscles the less you will feel the need for a back support.

Ditto KF, for the same reasons. I've done long trips with some and found the same results.

Quote:

I understand the back support idea but I think that a back rest is just compensation for weak back and core muscles. The better conditioned your core muscles the less you will feel the need for a back support

I agree that having a strong core is a good thing.
For some of us who like the Double Paddle, a backrest is not just for support, it helps generate power when using it. Using a pack or foot brace to lock yourself in to position makes all the difference using the double.

I don't kayak, but from the seats I've seen the buckets serve that purpose in them.

I've used the tractor seats, don't care for them because of the issues KF/JJS mentioned, but if I wanted/had one, I think I would consider drilling some small holes (cautiously) for ventilation and too aid in drainage.

I have 2 canoes with bucket or fitted seats.  On one the seat is 2 inches above the floor and on that canoe I prefer a back rest.  On the other a Magic the seat is much higher and I do not need or want a back rest.  I use a double paddle 99% of the time in both.  With out a back rest I can get the power by twisting my body.  With a back rest I get very little shoulder rotation and I believe less power.
MagicPaddler

Webbed seats are more comfortable both pressure and ventilation wise. I have two 3/8 x 8 x 12 kneepads. I put one on a bucket seat and the other is under an ankle or knee sometimes or under my butt too. If it's real wavy I'm kneeling on them. They come in handy at camp too for all sort of things. Multipurpose is a virtue on a trip.

A back rest is great for having a smoke, jigging or paddling downwind with no particular place to go. Stuff like that. Not for paddling to get somewhere IMO. Your arms don't paddle they just transfer energy from your torso.

db wrote on Sep 25^th, 2012 at 4:51am:

Webbed seats are more comfortable both pressure and ventilation wise. . . . .  Multipurpose is a virtue on a trip. A back rest is great for having a smoke, jigging or paddling downwind with no particular place to go. Stuff like that. Not for paddling to get somewhere IMO. Your arms don't paddle they just transfer energy from your torso.

Ditto.  Arms are for fishing.

---

I prefer the bucket seat but am always sitting on a Crazy Creek chair that has a very high back. Sitting on the thick padding of the chair seats really helps on long days in the saddle. The seat back is loosened and leans back out of the way until its break time. It hampers proper torso twisting with my double blade use if I am leaning against it. Sometimes I will have it leaned back but stuff a coat behind my rear so I can push off my foot brace and really be anchored for tough headwinds.

I really liked mine in my old Wenonah Spirt II, I used a standard strap in padded canoe seat with the back pushed down when paddling and up when fishing. I just got a Souris River Q17 with webbed seats and I think I am going to try the kneeling route first and if it doesn't work for me I will have to install a tractor seat.

I always thought it would be nice to have a tractor seat in the front of a double to keep the bow paddler somewhere near the center of the canoe.

My tandem has buckets. Once in a great while I'd ask someone to slide their butt over an inch. No big deal. No one much liked requests to slide it forward though.

Hmmm, hadn't considered just how much leaning I do in my merlin to get around and hadn't considered that I would be sitting in a puddle during precip conditions. I suppose a guy can always drill a few holes. Maybe I'll wait a few trips before I pull the trigger.....that bucket sure felt good though.........

before i bought my prism i rented a prism with a bucket, i did not like being stuck to that one sitting location. i have always had a bench, and i bought a prism with a bench that i can easily kneel, which i enjoy, and for me the bench gives me more freedom.

I just bought a used Quetico 16 rigged for solo I was wondering  if anyone has used the dished style bench seat?