: Shaping the gunwales (carving a curve in the upper edge) is discussed in
: Petersen's "Instruction in Kayak Building" and is commonly done
: in Greenland. Even ancient kayaks often show this feature.

Thanks Greg, I have noticed that recurve effect on some kayaks but not thought much of it. It is decieving because (according to my instructions) the offset is irregular - the curve meanders down from each end and then back up toward the cockpit... yet appears regular once the gunwales are angled and bent-around. The technology is in these boats blows me away.

How does the saying go, "The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know"? Thanks again for that picture; it shows the effect very well.

- Chip