Canoe Seat Caning Instructions

Because you sit on a flat seat in a canoe when paddling, you want to have a seat that's comfortable. Although you can buy all types of canoe seats--from strap-on chairs to thick cushions--a simple cane seat is often just as comfortable. Comfort isn't the only issue because add-on seats raise your center of gravity, which makes the canoe less stable. If you're handy, you can cane a canoe seat quickly. After you finish, you'll have a seat that's comfortable while keeping your center of gravity low.

• 1

  Use a 3/16-inch plunge bit and router to cut a 3/16-inch grove around the seat's opening on your canoe seat's frame. Keep the groove parallel to and 1/2 inch away from the edge of the seat's frame.

• 2

  Round the edges of the groove with 80-grit sandpaper. A sharp edge might cut or damage the cane.

• 3

  Soak the pressed cane and cane spline in hot water. Keep it soaking until it's flexible enough to bend over without cracking. It usually takes between one and two hours.

• 4

  Lay the wet pressed cane over the seat's opening and secure two opposite sides with cane wedges by pushing the cane into the groove with the wedges. Pull the cane tight across the seat before securing the second wedge.

• 5

  Push the cane into the groove using cane wedges until the cane fills the entire groove. Keep the cane tight by pulling on it. In some places, you might have to leave a wedge to hold the cane in place. In others, the friction between the cane and the groove holds the cane.

• 6

  Run a utility knife along the outside edge of the groove to cut off excess cane. Remove the wedges as you cut.

• 7

  Fill the groove with a waterproof glue.

• 8

  Push your soaked cane spline into the groove. You might need to use a hammer to tap it into place. To protect your seat from the hammer, put a scrap board over the cane and pound on the board.

• 9

  Cut the cane spline when you've filled the entire groove. Then push the end into the groove. If you cut it right, it will sit flush to the starting point of the cane.

• 10

  Let the glue dry according to the instructions before you use the seat. The cane tightens as it dries.