: Some of the concerns were centered around the fact that today we build kayaks
: for a wide range of body types that are not at all like those of the
: typical Aleutian seal hunter. ..... if we
: are proportionately 5% larger than the average Aleutian and we increase
: our boat's dimensions by 5% we wind up with 116% more volume, which may
: not be the right answer. Today we also have women paddlers, whose wider
: hips might indicate wider boats, but whose lower center of gravity might
: make a narrower boat sufficiently stable,

assuming you are right on this - and your arguments seem very solid and sensible - then what remains to be done?

First build a boat, then let several very different people try it, and see which anthropometric type likes it best? But isn't this just what is happening on the commercial front?

No, I guess not. At least I've never read about any survey on what kind of (size & shape) people best like what boat. Nor have I seen boats advertised using anthropometric arguments, beyond the small - large - XL recommendation. Too sensitive an issue to use as sales argument?

Well, on second thought, some narrow Brit yaks do often get the praise "ladies boat" - this might reflect the "low center of gr. gives good stability" fact.

But to advertise it in these terms - heck, it would be like saying:

"HEY all you FAT-ARSE PEOPLE out there, this one's for you!"

Bad sales talk... any advertising people on this board? Whadd'ya say?