Great input. I've used the ratchet type in WW boats both for seat and knee hook adjustments. I'd like to find one that has two straps, top and bottom, to allow some face angle adjustability.

: For my taste, nothing beats the micro-adjustability of a ratchet backband,
: currently found mostly in whitewater kayaks. They use ratchet buckles and
: toothed straps borrowed from snowboard bindings to provide convenient
: micro-adjustments while sitting in the kayak - just reach behind you and
: click away! Immersion Research developed them first
: (http://www.immersionresearch.com) and sell models intended for
: retrofitting into kayaks. They could be installed in your Coho like the
: backband shown in Greg Morse's pictures - just unbolt the blobs at the end
: of the ratchet straps (used for a quick install on tupperware kayak seats
: with backband slots) and bolt into place on your seat. You will also need
: to install loops on the back of the cockpit rim for the adjustable straps
: that hold the backband up (typical of most backbands including the Bomber
: Gear ones). While a cam-buckle backband (such as the Bomber Gear, a very
: good backband) can be adjusted and readjusted, you have to get out of the
: kayak to do it conveniently and in very small increments. I used an IR
: "Reggie" while paddling for two weeks straight in the Grand
: Canyon (235 miles, 90% of it FLATwater, all of it Spectacular). The
: ability to readjust the backband a little whenever I wanted (no, I never
: wanted to in the middle of a rapid) was wonderful. Once you try it, you
: will discover you gotta have this backband. You can easily release the
: backband to get in or out of your kayak, then quickly ratchet it back to a
: comfortable setting, great for tight-fitting cockpits. One-handed
: adjustments are easy.

: In the imitation is flattery department: 1. Pyrahna kayaks
: (http://www.pyranha.com) bought into the idea by making ratchet backbands
: standard in their kayaks (whitewater and sea kayaks judging by the website
: pictures) and improved on it by moving the ratchets in front of the
: paddler, mounting them in the thigh braces (see website photos for
: details, especially WW kayaks) I have demo-ed their kayaks and the front
: ratchets are a great improvement on an already excellent idea. One-handed
: adjustments are very easy and the buckle release tabs can be operated
: through your sprayskirt (great for emergency bail-outs from tight-fitting
: cockpits). I intend to convert an IR backband to front ratchet style on
: one of my kayaks.

: 2. Dagger kayaks (http://www.dagger.com) bought into the front adjustability
: idea by installing cam-buckle backbands on their WW kayaks with the
: cam-buckles mounted on the thigh braces. I have also demo-ed a couple of
: their kayaks. The backband adjuster cam-buckle is not as convenient as a
: ratchet buckle, but mounting it in front is a big improvement over the
: same buckle behind your back. One-handed adjustments are possible but not
: as simple. This idea would also be useful for backband conversion,
: especially if you already had a cam-buckle type backband.