Mick,
Your design was the basis of my sketch, Shawn Baker sent me a link to your sketches. I was thinking that the forward portion would orient above deck and would recess towards the rear with the deepest recess in the very back. I did not think about drainage. I figured the skirt would keep any water out but didn't think about freezing water (don't plan to have it out in those conditions anyway). I may need to dump the ply stack anyway since my kayak is narrow and I may not have the room to implement my design.

Thanks for the comments.

--Tony

: I like the idea but some comments: -the section a-a location with biggest
: drop to the coaming is most likely at the deck peaks which are at the
: front or back. Some deck configurations would put this at the 10 or 2
: o’oclock configuration(ww yaks). As most boats have rounded decks the low
: pt would then be to the side where you’re a-a is located. As this is a low
: point it is a fairly good idea to exploit it and use this location (or a
: few inches to rear) for drainage – either a ‘canal’ or design the recess
: so it is at 0 at this location.

: -If your yak is normal or narrowish and you wish a full size cockpit, maybe
: getting rid of the ply stacks for coaming upstand will give you 1 ½ “ of
: extra space. To me they are a bs approach that just adds weight, adds
: wider coaming ring and takes away possible usable width, and with real
: curvy decks adds difficulty in actually bldg.

: -Carefully consider drainage and the conditions that this yak will ever be in
: even without you. I have frequently had ice forming on my skirt - a
: non-drained recess would inadvertently make me ‘one with the yak’, maybe
: at a time that I may not wish it. In one yak, I put in a continuous recess
: as I didn’t want to aesthetically interrupt the strip continuity, but then
: installed 2 scuppers – a marginal solution. In the present yak, I’m
: planning on putting ditches out on ea side. in narrow yaks, there's little
: to no room for a recess at the side

: -mick