Weldwood will hold up just fine against moisture, provided that you applied it properly. You typically need two coats on the foam and one on the fiberglass. If the foam absorbs both coats, add a third and if the 'glass surface is rough, you can always add a second coat to fill it in. As for back rests, I still prefer back bands in my own 'glass boats, but they vary a lot in design and construction, so you may need to try a few before you find one you like. I prefer back bands with Minicel padding over a 1/8" thick plastic stiffener. A slick fabric or neoprene cover, combined with an anchor point at the top of the band, makes sliding in easier. Foam backrests work well and are pretty popular among experienced paddlers. You may well prefer that route, so don't hesitate to experiment. The best ones I've seen/tried are 6"-8" wide and curved at the top to blend into the coaming rim.

said brian_nystrom 1 months 21 days ago

It's largely a personal preference. If I'm satisfied with the stock seat height - as I was in the Pintail - I'll make the replacement pad the same height. If I want more stability, I'll lower it. However, lowering the seat effectively makes the coaming higher, which can make lay-backs difficult, so you have to keep that in mind. I've never raised the seat in a boat, but if you felt that you needed more leverage to edge your boat, raising the seat would help.

said brian_nystrom 1 months 27 days ago