: I'm planning on building a Skene-style kayak using George Putz's book.
: Nowhere does that book mention amenities like a seat comfortable enough to
: sit in for hours of paddling, or footrests and thigh braces. Any advice on
: installing such accesories?

David,

In a traditional Inuit skinboat the ribs are spaced so that you sit between ribs and a deckbeam functions as a footrest. A deckbeam footrest allows you to move your feet across the beam, whereas a "pedal" style footrest does not. The Greenlanders usually place a thin piece of minicell foam that extends from the backbrace (deckbeam behind the cockpit) to the footbrace. The foam pads the floor and backrest, makes it easier to enter the very low volume cockpit (it prevents your heels from catching on the ribs) and it keeps sand out of the lashings. The Greenland kayaks have a very short cockpit; a curved deckbeam allows you to brace with your thighs. Hip pads are not used as they raise your center of gravity when the kayak is on its side. The width of the kayak is tailored so that pads are not needed.

I am not sure how well these features translate on a Putz kayak, but they may be worth a thought.

Greg Stamer