The Global Paddling Community

One and a half years ago, as I switched from open canoeing to C1 paddling, I had the same problem as all other C1 fans: it was impossible to buy a good C1. There was only one solution: develop my own seat and use it in a kayak.

The Idea

The first idea was to develop a universal seat that makes it possible to convert any kind of kayak into a C1. The second requirement was that the construction should reduce the stress on the joints, especially the pressure on the knees. And finally it should give the rider the maximum amount of safety. To put these ideas into practice, I needed a year and a half and suffered numerous injuries, but the final result is a seat that makes sense.

Development

I needed a few months to shape the form, find a partner who could help solve the technical issues involving the mold rotation, build an inverted mold and perform the tests to determine the amount of plastic needed. In addition, I had to test many different types of glue and I had to find a reliable partner to deliver the foam fittings and the strap-system. Finally I had to do several test runs in Austria, France and Slovenia.

The complete construction is handmade. I therefore needed a lot of time (approximately 24-30 hours) and five different plastics/foams and three different glues were necessary for the construction. I also required special machines to work on the synthetic material.

If you have enough money almost all your wishes can come true (except it is still impossible to turn the C1 back into a kayak :-)

Availability

It is now possible to order complete C1's with this seat from the following brands: Eskimo, Prijon, Robson and Bliss-Sick. The price for a complete C1 is approximately the same as the kayak price. The delivery time depends on the vendor and the model of the hull.

Rock an' Roll

If you have questions regarding the equipment or any of the technical aspects, please contact me and I will try to help.

Markus Maas