: I'm going to build the Shooting Star because I'm ASSUMING it's a great boat.
: I haven't had the pleasure of paddling one, yet. I'm planning on investing
: 300-500 irreplaceable hours of my life building a Shooting Star based
: solely on your assurances, reputation and killer website photos. A
: different approach to constructing the stern won't change the boat, just
: the way the stern is assembled. I don't plan to modify the
: "design" of the stern.

: Sure. I also have a StewMac bending iron used for guitar construction that
: would lend itself nicely to the job.

: Nope. I'm not going to graft a piece of hypalon-covered canvas onto the
: Shooting Star. I just may not use strips. I'm going to try a different
: stern assembly approach and will be happy to share its success...or
: failure with the group. I'll be posting my progress via my website.

: After looking at several dozen pictures and drawings of baidarkas, it's clear
: that variety existed in the way the bow was constructed although they all
: share the fine entry cut-water and the high volume upper bow. I wonder if
: some baidarka builders used the bow design as a builder's or tribal
: "signature" or trademark?
: I'm not going to graft a Greenland-style bow onto the Shooting Star, but I am
: considering the contemporary looks of the cutwater/bulb on the baidarka
: that was built by the Australian couple on the Shearwater website. Eric
: Schade did not think the mod changes the handling of that particular boat
: since the fine cutwater and high volume upper bow were preserved.

: Thanks for the cautionary statement. I understand that you know your building
: approach works and that following your instructions exactly will result in
: a fine boat. It's also possible that I just might build a great looking
: AND performing boat incorporating some of the building techniques with
: which I'm familiar. I'm no stranger to woodworking and regularly deal in
: .001" tolerances. See the website link posted below.

: If you look at the SOF heritage of the kayaks everyone is building, you have
: to agree that a strip-built kayak is a modern interpretation of excellent
: ancient designs. I don't see a problem using a couple of different and
: valid approaches to achieve a satisfying result. Hey, I'm not
: re-engineering your design or your boat, just "personalizing" my
: Shooting Star a bit. Heck, Rob, if YOU don't like the way I build your
: design I'll rename it Shooting Asteroid or something.

: Thanks - best regards
: Jim Kozel

Sorry Jim,
I remember you now. The fine guitar builder, yes.

Okay. I just wanted to caution you BECAUSE you'll be spending all those hours building. I'm confident you'll do a good job.

Most people have not developed or trained in visual design. Every eliment and shape of my boats is considered and relates to the whole design.

I'm perplexed when I see people build one of my boats and put a square hatch on it, or change the shape of a part without considering how it will look and effect the whole design.

Have fun!

All the best,
Rob