There are many opinions on footrests and backbands.
I would go ahead with the thigh braces if your knees are inside the coaming. Otherwise you'll have a hard time staying in the boat upsidedown.
For footbraces on a wooden frame yost - I can't help much. If your feet are close to a section you can get away with a peice of thick minicell foam to push your feet against. It it is more than a couple inches you might want to look at adjustable foot rests. If it were me I would get creative with some minicell and PCV pipe to make something I could build in the boat.

Foster

: I am located in West Michigan area. (Grand Rapids / Holland) I was
: expecting I would need a seat and backband, What I wasn't
: certain on was the foot rests and thigh braces.

: Last summer I didn't have float bags / a sea sock or deck lines, so
: didn't dare get more then 100 yards out from shore. Also,
: recovering after going over involved dragging to shore and
: emptying out on shore.

: I think I will I get a large chunk of mini-cell foam and make a
: backrest, hip pads and see if I can implement good thigh pads. I
: ended up building the large coaming version, so i think I might
: need thigh pads as well. Does anyone have any examples of foot
: rests in a yost style boat?