C-Forum

Could any of you folks who happen to have a Dagger Encore tell me where I should start the glue in of my Peception saddle and the height I should aim for

Richard

Most Perception saddles I have seen have a piece of Ethafoam glued to the bottom that is about 2 1/2" to 3 1/2" thick. This positions the seating surface about 8 1/2" to 9 1/2" up from the hull bottom and allows the foam to be shaped to fit the curvature of the hull bottom.

I have seen saddles in which the Yakima footbrace tracks were secured with threaded, stainless steel rods that went through this foam, and others in which the tracks were secured directly to the plastic saddle with stainless machine screws and bolts.

If you place the plastic saddle directly on the hull bottom, the seating surface will only be about 6" high. This makes for quite a reach over the gunwales in a relatively deep boat like the Encore, but you might prefer a low saddle. You will have to figure out ways to suspend thwarts from your gunwales to brace the top of the saddle in front and back if you place it this low, however.

If you have other OC-1s that you paddle and know what saddle height you are comfortable with, then just adjust the thickness of the foam as needed. Most people seem to feel that the lower the saddle the better, up to the point at which comfort is compromised too much, or the gunwale winds up too high in your armpit.

As for fore and aft positioning since the Encore is symmetrical, I would simply position the saddle so that your navel winds up right about at the center of the boat. Your hip joint will be 3-4" behind center and your knees somewhere in front of center, depending on your thigh length.

Once you have adjusted the foam to the right thickness, put the saddle on a flat surface, and get some loose kneeling pads. Sit on the saddle and brace your thighs firmly up against the wings in your normal paddling stance. See where your navel winds up relative to the saddle when you sit upright, and that point on the saddle should wind up at the center of the boat, or close to it.

You can also balance the boat on a 2 x 6" wood plank placed crosswise under the boat right at the center. Put the saddle loose in the boat, and slide forward or back until the boat is balanced when you sit upright. This position allows you to weight the bow by leaning forward, or the stern by leaning back.

Or you can put the boat in the water and have a friend observe your trim from the side from shore, or in another boat. Slide the saddle forward and back until trimmed and mark the position. If you use this method, it helps to first put a couple of strips of tape on the side of the boat at each end, one set right at the waterline and the other just above, which makes it easier for an observer to judge the boat trim.

These methods apply if you want the boat neutrally-trimmed. Some people prefer trimming slightly bow light, and a few slightly bow heavy. Unless you know you want it otherwise, I would suggest trimming it neutrally.

Thanx mate this a coprehensive reply and much appeciated

RM

Got the height down pat

But if anyone knows where I should put the perception seat in from the end of the canoe I could be on the water.

Basically the distance from the bow extremity to the screwoff cap

Sould be around 69 inches.

Thanx in advance

Richard

I just eyeballed it in my Encore and it looks to me like it should be closer to 64 inches from the very bow stem of the boat to the front of the hatch cover.

But I would send an email or pm to member mattm. I am pretty sure Matt has an Encore with a Perception saddle in it and maybe he could measure it for you.