: I am getting ready to build the North Bay XL.
: I bought the plans becuase I love the shape and lines of the boat.
: But I plan to use it many types of water conditions.
: So to bring down the weight a little and ad manuverability
: I would like to shorten it from 18'7" to 16'7".
: Does anyone know if there could be any adverse handling characteristics
: from altering the boat this much.

: Thankyou, Julie

I shortened both a Northbay and a Northbay XL to 17 feet. It is easy just lay it out on 11 inch stations. I also moved the coaming and seat back 5 inchs. The boats performs better than the full size versions and moving the seat back eliminates the weather coaking. You will lose some storage space but in the XL this should not be a problem. The standard shortened Northbay is tight. You will not fit if you have size 11 feet. I need to wear undersize water shoes. It is not a problem on the shortened XL. I have a full size XL also and is a very different boat. The only hard part is figuring out the new profiles on the end of the panels. You can scale the profiles from the plans at 11/12 or wing it. I did both the scaling is more work but it will save you filling gaps after you stich it up.