: Your posture will not be the same for paddling as for rowing. While your
: rowing machine frame has footpegs, which should serve you nicely, remember
: that a kayak seat has a back support. If you don't keep your back
: supported on your trainer in the smae amnner that youw ould do so in a
: real kayak, then you may find that you try to "paddle" by
: rhythmically moving back and forth at the hips. In effect it would be a
: mix of a paddle effort and a rowing effort. Who knows if that mix of
: movements would actually help you.
The Raven will have no backrest, the seat will be tilted forward as in a sprint kayak. But for those long lonely training sessions you are right, there should be a backrest. I'll look into that.
: Why not just park the kayak facing a wall and mount your exercise equipment
: to the wall alongside the bow? You could take advantage of a rounded hull
: to allow you to tilt and sway a bit. Mount a shelf on the wall right above
: the bow and install a TV. Play some videos of sea movies and you might
: feel like you are out on the ocean. 
I thought of using the kayak. Problem is, my garage is small, crowded with stuff and a huge mess. I generally do cleanup in the Spring. You're suggesting that I change my routine and clean it up now. The kids will react to that, you know, think I'm going through my middle-age crisis again or something. Perhaps I'll look at rigging things up as you suggest for those hours long training sessions. Heck, I like the video idea, I could watch Castaway, Master and Commander or Pirates of the Caribbean. Excellent idea! Sure beats drinking beer and staring at the frost building on the wall.
Robert N Pruden
