Thanks Spidy,

I appreciate your comments especially after seeing your boat! Real nice job.

Well, I finally got it wet and yes the cutoff stern seems to keep the wake at a min. I'm not sure if it really helps all that much but I'm pretty sure it doesn't hurt and I was going for a look as much as anything. Surfing I might even get an extra push against the flat stern if i catch the wave just right.

The 1st boat was 24" and it is as stable as anything I have tried .... which was what I was aiming for (I have a terrible sense of balance and the narrower boats drive me crazy) plus I'm a big guy and dislike the feeling of being shoe-horned into my boat.... the new one is 23-1/2 and i do notice a difference in the way it handles.. it's definitly faster but just as stable, suprising for a meager 1/2 inch change in width (OK I added 4" in length too) . With that keel they also track very very well. My wife paddles a panache which tracks like an arrow and she says this is similar but that this boat seems to turn easier, once you kick her up on the side she spins right around. All in all I'm pretty pleased with the way it handles.

BTW: I use staples as a weight conservation measure, all those holes must be saving me something. :)

happy paddling.... Edgar

: Hi Edgar;

: I'm thinking that it probably was worth the basement time to build these
: honeys! You have two fine kayaks there, the design and the execution are
: beautiful indeed.

: I have never seen a rear deck support such as you use. It looks kinda neat,
: and I imagine rather functional. The cut-off sterns also follow
: conventional thinking (not as applies to current kayaks, but for
: "other" boats) as regards to least energy wasted in churning the
: water. They look kinda cool too . . . How have you found the first kayak
: to be in practice? Very little wake as theory would have us believe? Any
: insights would be appreciated.

: Congratulations, thanks for sharing them with us. Now, if I could dissuade
: you from the staplegun . . . Only Kidding! (I have to try or my reputation
: will fade ;-)

: Best Regards, Spidey