1914 Charles River solo paddle

Aravenguide

Maine Guide
Hey folks,
Been out in the CR and tend to paddle solo. However this canoe does not lend itself to be too stable sitting in the rear seat alone. I would sit in the front facing back but there is a thwart directly behind the front seat and and inch higher. I have added a center carry thwarting the center.

Question is...

What can I do to use this canoe solo?

Can I lower the thwart to seat height?
Remove the thwart as I installed the carry?
Options?
 
Straddle a stuffed dry bag and kneel wherever is optimum.
You can also put down a pad to cushion the knees.
 
I think we need pics.
And as a guy who doesn't (can't for more than a few minutes) kneel,
I'd opt for a lower seat mounted at a location about 1/3 from either end (your choice).
 
In the attached photos you will see the 'outwale adapter blocks' I fashioned from oak scrap so that an Azland Traditions Sling Seat could be used. The photo shows a longitudinal strip Canadian built canoe with the wide, U-shaped outwales, but I use the same adapters with a 1912 Old Town closed gunwale canoe. The inside faces of the blocks, green in the photo, is felt glued in so that scratching of the gunwales does not occur. Be mindful that you are pulling the gunwales inward, potentially a problem, if there is not width stabilization nearby as will be provided by a thwart or
STH72558 resize.jpg
seat frame. TM..
STH72560 resize.jpg
 
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