Brian:
Thanks for your insight on the seat back height. I was wondering about the spray skirt that I will be making out of neoprene and how it will work with the top of the seat right there. The front seat is a little lower because the shape of the hull where the front seat is mounted. I may opt to make the spray skirt out of urethane coated dennier and build in a little extra room for the seat top. I'm not sure how much back seat strength I'll lose if I cut the rolled edge top off. I had contemplated what you suggested in that to use the bottom and make a seat back that is lower. I haven't felt much interference with the back of the seat, but then I've only test paddled it a few hours so far and nothing strenuous.

I've already made the travel covers out of neoprene which turned out pretty good with very little puckers or gathers around the lip. But of course the seat is folded down for travel / storage and not in the way. I'm also making a half skirt for mild / moderate days where a full skirt won't be necessary. My non athletic wife may feel more comfortable using the half skirt. I doubt we'll be doing many rolls in a double anyway.

Thanks again for your perspective.

DAVE