Make your NDK/SKUK Romany or Explorer Seat Comfy

A common complaint about NDK/SKUK Romany and Explorers is an uncomfortable seat. If like me, you find the seat itself comfortable, but have problems with the backband pinching your arse between the seat and the band, try this easy fix before removing the glass seat.

For this project, you need:

• 80 grit sandpaper
• 120 grit sandpaper
• Masking Tape
• a little epoxy or varnish
• 8-Inch 4 In Hand File and Rasp
• Compass

You also need a comfy backband to replace the poor excuse of a backband supplied with the kayak. I heartily recommend this one:

• Immersion Research Reggie Backband

For this project, you’re going to lower the back of the seat using sandpaper and a rasp, install a new backband, and make everything look pretty.

Steps:

1. Apply masking tape to the back of the seat. See the picture.
2. Decide how much lower you want to drop the seat back and set that measurement on your compass. Start with 1/2″. Using the compass draw a line on the masking tape that follows the shape of the seat back. Note: You can also reshape the back of the seat to fit your posterior better. I made the drop from the hull attachment point to the back of the seat steeper.
3. Rasp and file down close to this line. Sand with 80 grit to reach the line.
4. Remove the masking tape.
5. Finish sand with 120 grit.
6. The edge will appear white. You can leave it this way or cover it with a touch of epoxy or varnish to make it look better.
7. Install the IR backband according to their directions through the hole already drilled in the seat. Depending on where NDK/SKUK decided to drill the day they built the kayak, the hole may have to be moved further back. On my kayak, the holes were drilled uneven when compared to each other, so I measured from the front of the seat to a location further back on the seat.

Notes: You could also try to wrap some thin minicell foam around the back of the seat to fix the pinch. Some people like foam backbands, which eliminates the pinch without having to change the seat.

Further Notes: Many NDK/SKUK seats are put into the kayak wrong. They can be offset from the centerline or put in at an angle. And for some reason, they seem to break often. Here’s a way to fix the seat problem using a foam seat.