Eric, thanks for the opportunity to put in $.02. Without paddling it it's a shot in the dark as to the utility of the feedback. We're pretty much looking at a picture.
I wonder if concave entries work for plywood,,there's already a tendency for plywood to present a sharp entry compared to strip so I wonder if that is more the cause of any weathercocking than playing with windage or cockpit/balance issues. How many frames/molds is the kayak built upon? I don't think making a kayak hard to turn,,increase tracking,,is necessarily the best route to address controlling weathercocking as it reduces responsiveness. 9 1/2" is plenty low,,it's for paddling forward and touring, not gyrating all over the place in rolling competition or rivers,besides simply having enough space between the back band and coaming can provide enough freedom of movement.

I like the cockpit/deck configuration, it's the best one I've been in so far for s&g.

: Hello--

: I built the prototype BLUFIN this spring and am generally happy with it and
: its performance. It is a low profile multichine hull. It is intended as a
: performance touring boat. it is 18 feet by 21 inches.

: Issues I found this summer include: 1. it could track a little better to
: reduce weathercocking effect. I prefer not to have a retractable skeg or
: rudder.

: 2. low profile is good in wind as is but bow punches through waves.

: 3. Rear deck is 9-1/2" high at combing may be a little high but it rolls
: well as is.

: My current plan is to modify the tracking by adding some skeggyness to the
: stern but leave the rest as is as I am happy with it generally. I do not
: mind a bit of punching through waves and the deck seems OK to me (I'm
: 6'2") I have modified the origional plan in several ways but keep
: returning to the origional.

: what are your thoughts?
: --eric