Hi Steve, I'm 6'-6" (so there!!) and I can get into my Chesapeake just fine with the standard cockpit. You might check if the Patuxent has the same cockpit coaming design. Also, I believe the Chesapeake is a bit deeper in that area than the Patuxents, so you might need a tad more length to get your legs in.

You're right about it probably being safer to be able to get in butt-first.

I also rounded the underside of the deckbeam so that I don't scrape my shins getting in. (Did that as an afterthought--after scraping my shins a few times).

I'll upload a photo of the deckbeam in the morning, so the link below will be dead for now...

Shawn

> I am building 2 Patuxent 17.5 (one for me and one for my wife). I am
> 6'5"...so I have long legs. The current design calls for a 30 inch.
> (length) cockpit opening. Having made a 'mockup' out of card board first,
> I determined I would make my cocket 3 inches longer...totaling 33 inches.

> My question is this...am I crazy for wanting to be able to get in and out
> of this kayak WITHOUT sitting on the coaming doing a balancing act? I am
> seriously considering making my cockpit opening even longer (36
> inches)...just to make sure I can get my size 13 feet out...what do you
> think?

> Steve