> Thanks for the comments. You guys have been a great help and inspiration.
> It is nice to know there is a place to come for help if problems are
> encountered.

> Lower shears (- 1-1/2 to - 2 inches amidships) and a higher cambered deck
> (from 30" rad to 18" rad to maintain current volume) are planned
> for the next build. I want to reduce the amount of surface exposed to wind
> and improve the deck-to-knuckles clearance. Neither of these adjustments
> are really necessary - no concerns to date - but I think that they are
> worthwhile incorporating.

> I wonder about a raised bow in my environment (small to medium freshwater
> lakes and rivers). The bow has enough volume that it does not plunge
> through a wave but not too much buoyancy such that it raises fast and
> effects the stability. The bow/stern volume is one of the areas that
> changed (increased) between the first and second prototypes.

> The swept up bows look real cool but I purposely keep it low. I think that
> even a slight breeze could exert a lot of turning force on a high bow 8 or
> 9 feet away - possibly causing the "weathercocking" problem you
> hear about on some kayak designs. The Chesapeake 17 I will be building
> this spring may lose some of the sweep - will have to see what the volume
> looks like.

> Hank

I raised the bow on the Walrus 17 to decrease weathercocking(tendency to turn into the wind), and to give more boyancy. I don't have this version finished yet, but will report on it after it is finished and I try it in the wind.

Mike