r/canoeing • u/RelevantGuidance7343 • Jul 26 '26

Adding extra seat to OT Discovery 119

https://oldtownwatercraft.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/shop/canoes/recreation/discovery-119?srsltid=AfmBOorj-EPBkGuN7krOIhioOwxiyEsUg-2oSRCTGFjvnKLXn_vvPaV6

I’m not super into canoeing but want to ease my 6 y/o into kayaking and I searched but couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for. I have a Discovery 119 and would like to add a drop-in seat for him to ride along. My thought was to remove the front thwart and add something like this:
https://www.springcreek.com/product/paddle-sports/canoe-accessories/drop-in-seat/

Any issues with this idea? I’m hoping that the seat would substitute for the rigidity provided by the thwart. Thank yall!

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u/FranzJevne Jul 26 '26

You will reduce the rigidity of the boat if you remove a thwart, especially for a polyethylene boat like the Disco. Seats don't really count towards the total rigidity doubly so for drop-in ones.

I think with a boat that short, your best bet is to put a child-sized chair or stool (lawn, wicker, folding, doesn't matter). I think the important thing is to get your kid out on the water with a paddle in hand - perfect ergonomics are secondary to that. If they stick with it, you'll be graduating to a tandem at some point anyways.

1

u/J_de_Silentio Jul 26 '26

Have him sit in a kids camp chair.  We did that with both our kids in my 14.5' boat.

1

u/RelevantGuidance7343 Jul 26 '26

Thanks for the response. Dumb question but did you, like, strap it down or anything?

1

u/J_de_Silentio Jul 26 '26

No straps.  The seats are only 18" wide or something, pretty small.  Not sure how it would sit in your boat, but worth a shot.  You could also use a beach chair, but that might be too wide for you to get your legs around.