: Might not be a bad idea to throw in a word about seating since
: there are lots of options in canoes; you can go anywhere from no
: seat at all to a La-Z-Boy. My Merlin is set up marathon racer
: style, with a sliding bucket on a pedestal and a foot brace. The
: sliding seat is for fine-tuning boat trim, and the foot brace
: connects you to the boat in a very kayak-like fashion when you
: hook your toes under it.

: It is exceedingly easy for me to hook my toes under the foot brace
: and lay back so I can instantly pass under obstacles as low as
: ~30" off the water.

: The high seated position allows you to get your feet under you,
: which then enables you to rise and stand, which makes getting in
: and out so very easy as compared to a kayak where you are so
: entirely committed to your sit bones with your legs and feet
: extended far in front of you.

: In the photo below, you might imagine where it's very east to
: stand, sit, or kneel as the spirit moves you while on the water.
: Kneeling seriously connects you to the boat for maximum
: control/stability; just the thing for hitting rapids or larger
: waves. I can come out of the seat and into a kneeling stance in
: one second or less.

Which was the reason I picked the canoe for river/small stream work to start with, being able to step down to the shore is a whole lot easier than lifting oneself up to the shore, specially after the 30th grounding of the day ;)

Bill H.