> Does anyone have any experience recessing the cockpit on a Coho or Arctic
> Tern? I'm planning my boat and am bothered by the peaks on the coaming
> ring. It seems to me that if the cockpit were recessed, a flat coaming
> could be used. Or how about installing a CLC keyhole coaming. That would
> be slick. Any help out there?

Steve, You can put in a recessed cockpit on almost any kayak deck. On a peaked deck, the cockpit recess piece will be pointed on each end, but the final cockpit opening will be flat across from side to side. I do this on all of our boats. The photo below shows our most extreme deck with this done. Without the recess this kayak would be almost impossible to do a decent cockpit on.

The Puffin Building Page at the link below has a few photos of the process. Scroll down the page about 2/3 of the way. Once you get the recess in, you can put in about any type of cockpit that you want. We use 4mm ply for the recess (could use 3mm) and run the grain across the kayak.

Good luck building, Grant (if the photo doesn't show up, go to the link to view it)