How to Recane a Canoe Seat

As all canoeists who paddle a canoe with cane seats know, cane seats are comfortable. When you sit in one, it conforms to your body. When the cane breaks, many canoeists take the easy way out and just resurface their seats with lawn furniture webbing. Although recaning a canoe seat costs about the same as replacing it, the process itself is easy if you have woodworking skills. Doing a repair like this helps you enjoy your canoe more, because you spend time doing the maintenance yourself.

• 1

  Run a utility knife along the perimeter of the seat's frame to cut out most of the cane. Glue and reed spline secures the rest of the cane inside a groove around the frame. Carefully chisel the reed spline and remaining cane out of the groove. Take care not to chisel into the seat's frame or enlarge the groove.

• 2

  Soak the new cane webbing and reed spline in hot water until you can bend it without the cane cracking. This can take two hours or longer.

• 3

  Place the wet cane webbing over the seat frame and secure it in place by pushing it into the seat's groove with several caning wedges placed on opposite sides. Keep the webbing tight across the frame while wedging it in place.

• 4

  Use the caning wedges to push the cane into the groove on all sides of the seat. If the cane wants to pull out after you push it into the groove, leave a wedge in place.

• 5

  Use a utility knife to cut off excess cane from the outside of the groove. Be careful not to cut the inside of the cane. Remove the wedges as you go.

• 6

  Fill the groove with waterproof glue. Make sure it penetrates the cane.

• 7

  Cut the end of the reed spline square with a utility knife, then push that end into the groove. With your finger, push the spline into the groove all the way around the perimeter. When you reach your starting point, trim the reed spline, so it sits flush against the starting point.

• 8

  Wipe the excess glue from the seat with an old rag. Let the glue dry according to the manufacturer's instructions.