On flat water, the Arctic Tern is quite fast, and I don't have any complaints. What interests me about the Baidarka is two things; 1. I've read on this board and elsewhere that in rough water, a skin baidarka boat that can flex and twist is both more stable and faster, because the hull flexes to stay more level to the swells even though they're not level to each other, and that same flex lets the boat cruise faster over and through those swells. The Tern gets pretty bouncy in tall, close interval swells. And 2, that the stern rudder design helps in catching and riding swells.

So that's my thinking. If someone is down around the Santa Cruz, CA area, I'd love to check one out on the water. So far, I've never seen one around here. I'd even drive up to 150 miles to try one out.

Let me know...
Mark

: Mark- I've built one exact replica and two more similar Aleut kayaks. For the
: 1934 lengthen the cockpit to thirty inches and tilt it up in front say 1
: 1/2", (this will raise the entire deck in front of the boat which is
: ok) , otherwise it is a shin barker and rather awkward to get into, unless
: you are under 5'5". Make the cockpit size and shape similar to a
: fiberglass kayak so that a standard spray skirt will fit.

: The hull is a good rougher water hull, stability is a personal matter but to
: me it is a fairly stable hull for its width, it is not for fishing from or
: camera work.

: The length is good - adding any length is not needed. Increasing the beam is
: okay 21.5" is enough , depends on your weight , if carrying gear ,
: skill level etc.

: I've never paddled an Arctic Tern and am curious about your expectations that
: an Aleut boat is " better for roughter " water , if possible
: paddle an Aleut boat to see how you like it. I rather doubt the 1934 Aleut
: boat would cruise faster than the Arctic Tern. My replica 1934 boat is
: similar to the fiberglass Nordkapp in cruising speed.

: From comparing my Greenland kayaks to the Aleut boats I find the Aleut hull
: shape to be more bouyant and feels faster in rougher water. The Greenland
: hulls respond very predictably in the rougher stuff while the Aleut hull
: responds faster to both waves and the paddler. One is not " better
: than the other " - just different.