I can not envision any combination of arm length, leg length, butt width, torso length, shoulder width, foot size or any other linear measurement that would accurately predict your weight. As a thought experiment. Measure all your body parts. Now spend two weeks getting your money's worth at an all-you-can eat buffet. Measure all your body parts again. Did you arm length change? Your waist may have increased in diameter, but how do you use your waist measurement to build a kayak? Since weight is such an important determinant of kayak performance, any system of design that does not take into account your weight is highly suspect. You can not create the perfect kayak without stepping on a scale and you can not predict your weight with arm length.

When you have determined how much your boat needs to displace, then start working on foot brace and seat location, hull width, deck height and the other measurements that determine good fit. It would be a mistake to go the other way around. Just because you fit a kayak does not mean it fits you. It is much easier to get a kayak that holds your weight and pad it out to fit you than it is to find a boat you fit in and try to make it bigger or smaller.
: I was not refering to a generic boat for anyone and everyone,but a specific
: designed boat to an individual person's weight displacement, height above
: waistline,width of shoulders and hips, leg length, etc. All these and more
: should make a difference in cockpit and seat placement and overall design
: and diamentions of the kayak. since no two people are alike, no two boats
: should be either. From this general formula, considertions could be taken
: for casual paddling, racing, fishing, ect., by expounding off of the basic
: body measurment to allow for the specific use intended. I am not thinking
: of a production line of one size fits all but just the opposite.
: If we are bigger than the people of 100 or 200 years ago this should not
: matter if the formula is followed. One's arm length is still proportional
: to the rest of the body of that individual and so on. The final end
: product,(kayak) should still preform well for that individual even if it
: is far removed in specifics, looks, or design, of an example of a
: yesteryear boat. Copying a design from the 1800's is no better that
: copying a design of today if it is expected to be a generic, one size fits
: all, production boat. There will allways be a need to tweak the design
: anyway. No one can leave well enough alone for long, and all the variables
: will come into play.
: Of course no one would selling plans if this was practiced!!!!!

: still looking for the "perfect boat"
: Dave