: ... or an alternative:

: In order to properly "push off" against foot pegs (or
: bulkheads or whatever) when paddling, it's necessary to have
: some way to resist that force and transfer the resulting energy
: to your paddle and thus to kayak propulsion. Otherwise you'd
: just push yourself backwards until you ran out of legs. A
: backband accomplishes this purpose. But so does a
: "buttband." What?

: That's right, though I'm sure there' could be a better term for it.
: I've added a 3" foam riser to the top of the back of my
: carved foam seat. (Sorry I can't post pictures.) It doesn't even
: come as high as my waist, but it gives me a great
: "purchase" when I really need it. No problems with
: entering the cockpit. Like Kurt, I find I paddle better and am
: actually more comfortable when leaning slightly forward and thus
: not needing a backrest, backband, seat-back... at all. And, like
: Kurt, I also know it doesn't work in all my 'yaks.

: Glenn

If you're moving your butt backwards you're pushing off on the footbraces too hard, doesn't do anything to the boat's motion. The result of pushing off should be countered by the paddle in the water, not pushing you around in the cockpit.

On my Yost SOF's I push off on the frame edges, but there is no seat and no backband and sit on the floor and I never move at all in the cockpit, it's all a balance of forces.

Bill H.