> Just curious as to where the Baidarka bow & stern design came from.

> I assume the notch in the bow was to help keep the skin on, and that the
> stern helped them stretch it tight.

This a controversial subject. There are a lot of theories, but since the original developers of the design are long dead, the best we can do is guess. It could be that the original purpose is no longer valid and the shape is perpetuated by tradition.