Thanks Stan... my first choice was pre-woven cane with spline (I have done that before and am familiar with the process), however, my concern was exactly what you mentioned. Replacing pre-woven cane is a bear - cleaning out that groove is no fun.

Do you have an on-line or mail order source for plastic cane?

Thanks.

: One BIG drawback to 'natural' material such as rawhide and natural cane is
: that when it gets wet it stretches and soon you will have a sagging seat.
: In all the publications and books I have read plastic caning is the way to
: go.

: As for instructions, Mac's Faetherweight book and Gilpatricks canoe book both
: have excellent instructions with many photographs.

: I have caned several seats, enjoy the process as well as the results.