> I've been busily drawing forms for a Great Auk in my CAD program
> from the data in "The Strip-Build Kayak". The deck is coming
> out sharply peaked. I can't tell from the pictures. Is this 'peakedness'
> softened in the finished boat. My Pygmy Osprey has a sharply peaked
> deck and I'd like to go with another look-just for something different.
> Is it possible/reasonable/SAFE to, for each form, simply run a spline
> through the deck's peak to the first point on either side rather than
> the lines I'm using now, or am I better off leaving well enough alone?
>

> Just in case the designer is listening...I'm not questioning
> the 'rightness' of your Great Auk design, but rather appreciating
> the smooth flow of the deck in some of your later designs. :-)

> Brad

>I saw your inquiry back in the kayak bulletin board about whether it
>would be wise to modify the shape of the deck on the Great Auk.
>
> I was thinking of trying the same thing as I am about to take on my
>first stripper project and don't like the peaked deck look or even the
>practicality of that shape. I too came to this conclusion after lofting
>the forms from the offsets in Nick's book.
>
> Have you decided to try it ? How do you go about getting a smooth
>deck without any waviness?I forsee problems off center while it would be
>easy to keep the center of the deck smooth.Also,what is a splint,I'm not
>familiar with the term.
>
> I think it would make a very attractive ,stable and fast kayak but I
>am hesistant to go for Nick's deck shape. I would think that CAD programs are the way to go to get the desired deck contour but I don't currently have access to such.
>
> Thanks, Marty H
>