Hi Hans, Apologies for the backhanded compliment, I have no skill in design but am beginning to associate handling characteristics I like with particular shapes. Your boat has a full bow which is something I've been trying to develop in a modified design from work. How did you make the deck? Your kayak looks like something I'd like to try out, let us know how it performs in wind and waves. cheers -lee
: Hi Lee

: Well I think I (roughly) know how to make a hull so that it performs the way
: I want.

: So what is left is to make a easytobuild and a practical kayak. Where I live
: near the polarcircle and the old communist block it is hard to find cheep
: plywood of good quality. And a radius deck is hard to build with less than
: hi quality plywood.

: one easy option is a vee-deck. And I did add some extra layers of tape on the
: inside of the seam so that I did not need any deckbeams.

: The tumblehome hull is nice to paddle and I like the look of it

: Personally I think 18foot is a good size for a long Tripp kayak. If you only
: paddles the kayak empty a shorter kayak will do nicely.

: This kayak will have a rudder. Personally I think a rudder is for steering
: and a skeeg is for "skeeging". In a wooden kayak it is more work
: to install a skeeg than a rudder.

: The kayak will behave nice without a rudder. But for long-distance trips a
: rudder is nice. And will save you a lot of energy

: Happy kayaking

: Hans