Tom,

Congrat's on getting it to the water. I found that when I put the Ply Walrus 17 on edge, it turns on a dime. In fact, it will turn itself quite nicely if you are moving. The chines seem to be a very good shape for carving turns. Wait until you have the deck on to practice putting it up on edge, as the 18.5 will hold a lot of water. ;-)

I've started on my 18' x 20" Putz style kayak. I am giving it a higher deadrise/chine width ratio though. I will probably put the deck on this one at the West Coast Wood Kayak Rendezvous. It will be slow going until then as I am also working on my wife's Redfish Spring Run and the weather is getting nicer.

Mike

: After glassing the hull of the 18.5' Walrus yesterday, I couldn't resist
: taking it to some water. So, we wedged it in the back of the '85 Bronco
: (about as much out as in) and headed for the "ballpark pond" (in
: central MO we're not too inventive with place names) for a little test
: paddle. The pond is only about 60 yds. in diameter so it wasn't much of a
: test, but what a difference from my 12.5' flat and fat canoe. Tracks like
: a rocket and resists turns like one too. I guess now I'll have to start
: reading the techniques board and learn how to paddle the damn thing.
: Couldn't mess around too much as I don't have the deck on yet, but the
: beams are all in and the panels are cut--should get that done next
: weekend. With paint and trim maybe get it finished by July 4. Launched the
: canoe last year on July 3--This is getting to be a habit. (The third hull
: is hanging from the rafters in the shop--a good fall project as I have to
: get back to some remodeling projects that are half-finished.) Thanks for
: everyone's help. Tom