The Sea-Seat

August-September 1997

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

Sea-Seat combines safety performance, hypothermia protection and boat re-entry with low cost and compactness

by HOWARD STIFF

The Sea-Seat is a compact, lightweight, orally-inflated raft uniquely shaped like a square inner tube minus the donut hole, with a low front edge for ease of access. Unit volume is about 100 litres (25 gal) of air supplied by "about 40 breaths" from a "normal adult male" over the course of 3-4 minutes. No CO2 inflation system is required.

We tested the Sea-Seat on a breezy summer day in 12°C water with about a 1 foot chop. The capsize victim (me) was wearing a farmer john wetsuit & a PFD. The Sea-Seat is designed to be clipped to and stored within the large pocket of a PFD, but I clipped the built-in lanyard to my PFD, clipped a second lanyard between the Sea-Seat & the boat, & stored the folded device beneath my deck rigging.

Deploying the Sea-Seat was simple. After a wet exit, I located the lanyard on the life jacket and gently pulled the Sea-Seat free. As I inflated the raft over the course of the next 3-4 minutes (it took me 60 breaths, but then I don't particularly consider myself "normal"), the three of us (me, my upside-down boat, and the swelling Sea-Seat) drifted along like some kind of Portuguese jellyfish, and I thought: "I wouldn't want to be sitting here without my wetsuit", and "Am I going to get dizzy blowing this thing up?" But I wasn't and I didn't, and next thing the Sea-Seat was fully inflated.

Once inflated, I followed the simple directions printed directly on the Sea-Seat which consisted of sliding the front edge under my chest. I was easily able to get all body parts out of the water except my lower legs. Heat loss diminished rapidly.

From there I could propel the Man-O-War, I mean raft, with my hands, and yes, even with the paddle, and tow my kayak towards shore. More functionally, I could also drain and flip my inverted boat and pump or bail it out. Re-entry was facilitated by bracing my paddle across the boat and raft. Although somewhat ungraceful, the payoff comes when you slide into a dry cockpit! (Pay heed, solo canoeists!) Another bonus: unlike other self-rescue devices, the Sea-Seat will provide support in the complete absence of your kayak.

At $88+GST Cdn or $66 US (includes shipping), the Sea-Seat combines safety performance, hypothermia protection and boat re-entry with low cost and compactness.

Contact Derek Bamforth, Pacific Canoe Base, 562 David Street, Victoria, BC, V8T 2C8. Ph: 250/382-1243.