: I paddled a Shooting Star at the Newfound Rendezvous - it was one of my
: favorite boats there. The lower bow cuts through smaller waves very
: nicely. The upper bow allows the boat to ride over larger waves, rather
: than diving into them and letting them wash over you - giving a drier
: ride. It gives the boat a very comfortable ride. The downside is that it
: is not truly a dry ride - spray was coming up on either side of the bow,
: and hitting me in the chest. Perhaps a little ballast would help with the
: spray, or at least move it forward of the paddler.

: The boat is fast and maneuverable. If not for the spray, it would have been
: my favorite boat there. Plus, the bow looks cool - or at least different.
: That alone makes it worth building. And yes, it's on my list for a future
: project.

: Ken
Ken-Interesting comments regarding the Shooting Star; I was at Newfound-didn't paddle the Shooting Star; at 205lb., I'm too heavy. Did, however, paddle the North Star. I fell in love with the boat; I need a fast, maneuverable boat that can carry me and a bunch of stuff, and the NS hit on more cylinders than any other boat of that size that I have paddled. I bought the plans after my fourth or fifth test paddle. I did, however, notice the same thing regarding spray from the bow that you picked up on with the Shooting Star. It felt as though the hull was shouldering aside the chop rather than deflecting it out and down. An overly abrupt transition from the cutwater to the fuller area of the hull, perhaps? I'd be interested in any feedback about this, as well as any wisdom other builders of the North Star could lay on me. By the way, as long as I'm here, let me tender my thanks to Michael Vermouth et al for the great weekend. There was no place here on earth that I would have rather been.-Greg