: I'm curious about the kayak design. Would you list the specs on it?

18' x 22.5"

:About the drawing, is it taken from the actual design?

No, this is a Guillemot shape. I just used it for a rough sketch of what I want the kayak to look like. I made the pattern before I designed the kayak and have been waiting to build a kayak to use it on.

: From the pics, it looks like a semi-hard chine, am I correct about that?

The forward and aft ends of the kayak are somewhat rounded and full so it should be good in the waves. The middle is kind of flat on the bottom and hard chined. I had it designed like a V shape, but with the width I had and using 275# (205 me, 50# boat [conservative?], and 20# gear) for a weight, it was kind of deep in the water. When I reduced the draft, the bottom had to flatten out and fill in the corners (chines) to get the right amount of bouyancy.

The bearboat program shows the minimum wetted surface possible as being one with a semi-circle hull (a log) and with the ends being somewhat like that it shouldn't have a lot of wetted surface drag. However, a log will roll without too much effort. The middle of my kayak being more like a rectangle will make it stable.

I'm not sure how it will perform. A log would not turn well when leaned, but a rectangular shaped hull would because the shape would change more. For this reason I would think the ends wouldn't change as much, but the middle would. For these reasons I would think it wouldn't turn as well. However, the non-V bottom of mine should allow it to turn easier than a V-bottom so for these reasons I'm not sure how it will compare to a Guillemot.

With the ends being full it should go up over the waves really well and not broach as easily since the bow won't sink in the wave trough as much.

For the above reasons I can't wait to paddle it and compare it to my friends stretched guillemot. Then I'll know more of what I have.

It has been fun playing around with the design program though. A great learning experience of what changes do to the kayak.

:Looks like an iteresing design, got a pic of the sections?

Yes. I'll upload one later.