A better seat for a Model B

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sdean7855
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Joined: March 17th, 2022, 12:31 pm

A better seat for a Model B

Post by sdean7855 » April 25th, 2025, 7:33 pm

I bought mine new many years ago. I'm 77, 6' and,alas, weigh 300 and am pretty broke. Rowing 30 minutes is my daily aerobic exercise, particularly during winter and inclement weather. I rowed in college ('69) and miss that the C2 doesn't do stroke finish feathering. I have no interest in rowing to some benchmark or metric; it's pure let's-get-the-exercise-done for aerobic sweat.
But my main problem is numbness and pain in my butt and legs past about 20 minutes. I tried the adhesive attached thin C2 accessory pad, didn't help. I cut out a piece of 2" thick memory foam, which helped enough to add 5 minutes before pain and numbness.
I see many many pads on Amazon, tried one and returned it; it was like a brick.

Suggestions? a $25 price limit would be nice, but I could go to $50 or more if it really made a difference. Being able to return it if it doesn't work is probably a good idea.. It's annoying that my butt and leg pain and numbness are what's limiting my rowing.

For the older folk. It's a lot easier to get on the C2 if it's elevated; here's what I did:
https://www.sdean.net/RaisingConcept2Mo ... meter.html
Rowed Freshman Crew Amherst '69, lifelong water rat, windsurfing, rowing, sailing. Bought C2 Model B new many years ago, now 77 (b.1947) row 30 minutes a day for aerobic exercise.
On the Hudson, Kingston,NY

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Ombrax
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Location: St Louis, MO, USA

Re: A better seat for a Model B

Post by Ombrax » April 25th, 2025, 10:58 pm

Hi,

For the record, some folks really love the Model B seat. I guess it's like bicycle seats - it's a personal thing.

Have you tried searching the forum? As you might expect, there's quite a bit of discussion on this. Search for threads with "seat" in the thread title and you'll see what I mean.

For example, here's one: viewtopic.php?t=195525

Some of the suggestions will be an entirely new seat, but given the limits you've imposed on cost, that might not be the way to go. There are are also lots of ideas for pads, which should be much less expensive. However, it may turn out that the B seat is just too small for you, in which case replacing the whole thing may be your best option. Maybe someone out there has a trashed later-generation rower and you'll be able to the seat for the price of shipping.

Good Luck

Cyclist2
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Re: A better seat for a Model B

Post by Cyclist2 » April 27th, 2025, 11:39 am

The model B seat was designed, I think, for rowers - right shape, proper cutouts for sit bones and tailbones. I love my Model B seat! The spacing on your sit bones may not match the seat, which could cause your problem. Perhaps a pad with the proper cutouts to match your butt would work better than just one that tries to cushion. (The later erg seats, IMO were designed for the mass market and are NOT comfortable. The pad I use on those is not thick but has the right cutouts).
Mark Underwood. Rower first, cyclist too.

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