Smed wrote:

i know it might sound like a petty thing to ask a question about but im
trying to get my wife into the sport of canoeing and i want to make it as
pleasant as possible...

i am looking at either an Old Town Guide 147 . . .


Several Old Town models can be ordered w/ traditional cane or nylon
webbing seats. These are just as easy for "centering" and will
accommodate the removable seat backs. Keep looking. Or email them for a
"canoes & accessories" folder which gives specifications of all OT
models. For example, the Allagash (about 1.5 feet longer but only 1#
heavier- read here more capacity) has nearly the same hull as the Guide
147 and has web seats. I have a 20' Old Town & wouldn't swap it for
anything but the same thing newer; I removed the molded bow seat &
replaced it with webbing. I do consider the molded seats about the only
mistake Old Town has made in several years. They prevent comfortable
seating when going solo & facing "backwards" and often discourage
dropping to one's knees when that would better match some paddling
conditions.

One additional reason for my suggesting a slightly longer canoe: it's
fairly easy to buy too small a canoe but fairly difficult to have "too
much" canoe.

Yours in the north Maine woods,
Pete Hilton (Reg. Me. Guide) aka The Ent

--
Either everyone has rights or some have privileges.
It's really that simple.
Walt Kelly