Here are some pics of a kayak we launched last month.
My shop buddy Rick (he lurks this BBS) beat the ice by 2 days for the launch of his boat.Arg I will have to wait for spring the water to soften up to launch mine.

Vitals:
Name Mistress Length:12 Feet 6" Max. Width:25" Weight: 33 pounds

Materials: Basswood and Mahogany
.
Design: Rick was looking to build a wooden kayak that would perform like those plastic laker yaks you see poking round on the lakes, but a whole
lot prettier. He took a David Hazen design cut feet off the length, inches in height, added inches here and there, and he got a a neat set of
performance characteristics. With a whole lot of great ideas garnered off this BBS. (Thankyou all very much!!!) and 10 months of work he got
to splash her

Christening: This project was launched and christened on November 19th, with a bottle of Sioux City Root Beer on a near by rock, by Lady Sarah Morgan, in 22 degree weather, with snow on the ground, and breezes running 0 to 8 knots. Seven New Hampshire parka people and one wet suit person were in attendance.

Christening Name: Her Christening name "Mistress" is derived from Rick's wife Sarah's mid project feelings about this boat. After months of listen to her husband say, "I am going over Russ's basement to strip" and who at times in the past year has been just twinge jealous of the time devoted to this project took both an enthusiastic role in Rick's efforts, but also came to see the project as the boatwright's wharf girl. This perception only intensified when half way through the project when she learned that this boat was a blonde.

Performance characteristics: Mistress is meant to be a fresh water creature, cruising flat water lakes. She was also designed to perform better loaded camping gear etc. With a load of less then 200 pounds her initial stability is quite lively and, her secondary stability is high. However, under a load of greater then 250 pounds she is a very stable boat. She is designed to carry in addition to the person in the cockpit, a cargo of up to 350 pounds. Under a load this boat is a dream to paddle. She is fast, turns quickly, but her deep V bow and stern holds a straight course even in 15 knot winds and she is surprisingly fast for her length.

Rigorous Performance Testing: The real truth is that before Mistress's first sea trials, we, released her from the finishing saddles for an extensive set of snow trials. (Hey it's NH) We tested her for paddle comfort, coffee drinkablity, sledablity on snow and of course initial and secondary stability. Finally, we tested her for sheer over all grin factor. In each case, she proved a worthy vessel. Been a heck of a lot of fun to build too!

All in all, Mistress is a joy to paddle and sparkling wet and lying in the sunshine she is a beautiful lass worthy of the jealousy of any man's wife.

Bon Voyage Mistress!! Long may you run.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1428795&a=10708251&p=36769182