: As everyone here knows we don't paddle straight legged.

If you SOF is built along traditional Greenland lines (low decks), you WILL be paddling with your legs straight. I do this in all my boats now and actually prefer it to paddling with bent legs. It does take some getting used to, however.

If the boat fits you closely, you'll probably find that the footbrace and backrest aren't all that necessary, since you'll have a good grip on the boat with your thighs against the masik and your butt down between the ribs. This is especially true if you're using a Greenland paddle with a canted stroke, since the paddling motion includes a downward punch/crunch that increases your thigh grip on the boat. One benefit of this is that your feet and lower back don't get sore from constant pressure.

FWIW, I used Morris' footbrace positioning method on my first boat and it came out just a bit short. I increased it by 1" on the second boat and it feels a bit long. I suspect that this is because I also increased the vertical footroom on the second boat, so my feet don't point forward quite as much.