: Does anybody have any ideas on designing a deck for a stich and glue kayak
: that can accomodate me and my 80lb dog. Im trying to stay away from a 20
: ft double and simply redisign something that already exists.

Point 1. I can almost feel the heat from the flames over which some of you will want to roast me, but here goes anyway. Please leave you dog at home. Just a few examples: over the years I have seen ducklings eaten, nesting loons pursued, children bitten and I myself have been knocked 10 feet off of a rock face by dogs whom someone loved and believed they had under control. I have abandoned many of my favorite nearby places and now travel elsewhere to enjoy the peace and quiet that kayaking/canoeing brings me. With all due respect, I simply am not willing to give up those precious moments or so that you can indulge your dog.

Point 2. Under any but the most ideal conditions a dog, especially a 80 lb dog, is a potentially lethal problem in a small tippy boat. I had a good friend whom is now very dead. Every bit of evidence indicates that his dog capsized his canoe when it bolted after some swimming ducks. My friend was a expert canoeist with thousands of hours of experience but the water was very cold and there was a rim of ice on the shore and he never made it back in. This may have been extreme, but any competent kayaker/canoeist understands even a minor problem can cause self rescue to turn from routine to desperate in a big hurry. A struggling, frantic dog is almost by definition a serious problem. By the way, the idea of connecting a dog to a kayak/canoe with a bungie or rope has entrapment written all over it.