I have a 16"+ Wenonah canoe with two seats and a "carrying" thwart. I have an eight year old and a three year old. Because of the width and length of the canoe we can comfortably fit in the kids (one in front of the stern paddler and one either behind or in front of the bow paddler) but they are very uncomfortably sitting on the bottom of the canoe. I hear that the "portable" canoe seats that strap onto the gunnels' are not very comfortable and don't work well. Short of attaching two "real" seats that I can purchase from any canoe manufacturer, does anyone have any suggestions?
thanks,
Mark

If you're anywhere near the Cities, I have a portable seat you could test drive to see... I've not really used it with my kids - floor seems OK to them OR they sit on top of a pack.

Main thing with the strap on seats is that they sit best at gunwale level (the one I have anyway), and if you adjust it lower to lower center of gravity, the side clamps are at the wrong angle and slip off.

Well, that's my memory anyway - haven't used it with many KINDS of canoe and haven't used it in years. You are welcome to try it if you are nearby.

No other ideas or options except if you are talking about paddling near home, what about bringing a small stool inside the canoe? Like a step stool or the kind you put your feet on under a desk (sometimes called nursing foot stools)?

foot stools

The hard plastic drop in ones that I've seen in pics might be wide enough for both kids - could be an advantage.

I had the same problem with the grand kids, tried several things, but this worked best and was only $20 at Walmart:




Works great, just set it in the boat against the center yoke...



Hummm?

We used a drop-in seat last summer. It worked well, for one kid. The other sat on a crazy creek chair, just to be on something kind of cushy. We've tried other things in the past, but without much luck, because of the shape of the bottom of the canoe. I wonder if Winemaker's thing is padded or hard? Looks pretty cool; would be good for my older daughter who has back problems and would like a back rest from time to time.