 The cane seat from Essex, although looking more comfortable, looks as narrow as what we have now. It's OK if you sit right in the center of your boat but we like to sit as close to the side as possible, my wife up front and myself in the stern. What we are looking for is a seat that extends laterally as close to the gunwale as possible so as not to have to sit on the narrow wooden bar. This is more of an issue for the bow seat than the stern. 