: Why not ask Rob's permission to use his lines and build SOF? You can get a
: rounder hull shape than 1934 by adding stringers and by their placement.

I'm not trying to sell you one of my designs (although that would certainly be okay with me) but suggest modifications you may wish to make to have the stablity needed in an unloaded baidarka. So just consider what I've done with my designs as you work on your Skin on Frame baidarka.

As far as the flexiblity issue goes, this is very intersting. I beleive George Dyson coats the sinue/thread ties/connectors of his aluminun tubing with epoxy which stiffens them right up severly limiting the overall flexiblity of the kayak.

How much tension is correct? How flexible or stiff does the Skin on Frame need be to achieve the supposed advantage in speed? There no tests to prove an advantage. It may be better not to have them.

It's like the body suits now popular with speed swimmers. There are no tests to prove they are an advantage and the company that sells them does not wish to have tests done, because if they are an advantage, they will be outlawed and if they are not, no one will buy them.

Have fun!

All the best,
Rob