>Woody Just a thought, but the tracking problem could befrom leaning one way or >another, hard chine designs like the guillemot can be steered by leaning left >to go right and vice versa. The reason being that as you lean the hard chine >becomes the keel so when you lean left you are riding on a right bent keel. >Kenny

This is a big possability. I even wanted to test it at one point but with the backpack on top of the deck I was a little afraid to push the final stability of the kayak in the cold water. When warm weather gets here I'll take the kids out to the lake swimming and take some time learning how far I can push it on edge.

This would also explain why it paddled straighter in calm water with the backpack stored under the rear deck. The backpack was about 20 lbs and since it was lashed to the bungee on the front deck always hung to the left or right of center. I just didn't notice if it was always turning opposite of the side it hung on.

Thanks,

Woody