Hey ya

I'm no expert and I can count the number of times I've paddled someone's Guillemot on hal a hand, but I've looked at built ones in detail and actually drew out the sections a while back to understand why many like it.

My impression of the Guillemot is that it's easy to manuever and turn but it was bear to paddle straight for a lond distance or in seas., and that quatering seas it was all over the place. Mind you, I'm not putting the design down, all I'm saying is that I hadn't learned the yak's movements and settled into it.

I think your idea is good and that the net effect wouldn't be bad however, you do want to consider the rocker aft. Looking at Jesse's at the nearby Aqua Adventure kayak store one day for an hour or so, it seems that one could do what you want to do, and ease the rocker and still get a tracking yak that can turn however, maybe you'll want to carry the chine a bit further aft? I have big feet, and the foot space is cramped in the Guillemot, maybe now's the time to add a roomier deck in the area of the feet then fair the stations forward to reduce the degree of torture the strips will undergo. When I say roomier, ease the peaked deck angle, adding some volume and rounding the deck down to the shear. Maybe there's a point where you'll want to add a little volume in the bow, too. Maybe stretch the spacing in the forms a tiny bit?
Like I said, I'm no expert, but this seems like the direction to explore.

Another thought is to add a longer aft keel, one that exrtends down a inch or so, then comes curving back up to follow the stern cutter line. A copuple guys on the KBBB have done this over the year or so I've been paying attention. You might want to search the archives.

You know, I just have to put in a plug on Nick's Night Heron design. That is a real race car, but has really surprising secondary stability. It doesn't surf well in short, steep waves but what 18 foot kayak really does? Put a deeper, more pronounced keel and you have the long distance sleek machine. The more I look at, paddle and currently building a SG version, the more I admire Nick's design gifts. Mind you, for some it feels twitchy; that's just the liveliness of the design. It lean turns well, and like I mentioned above, it has surprising secondary stability. I think the SG version will be a real champ...

I just realized I sound like a commercial...

: Anyone out there tried modifying a Guillemot? and if so what was your
: experience with it. To be clear, I'm looking at the design that is in
: Nick's book (from offsets).

: Here's what I'm considering. I've read here and there comments to the effect
: that the Guillemot is a great kayak, but could use some work in its
: tracking ability. I've looked at the forms and compared them to the
: drawings of other kayaks and well, i'm wondering if there's any harm in
: modifying the last couple of stations so that they come down lower and
: with a more vertical angle. I picture the profile in the stern would be
: changed to be less pointy and dip down to and under the waterline faster
: than the original design. I don't like the idea of putting a rudder on the
: kayak.

: One thing I'm worried about is the added volume that will be below the
: waterline at the stern. I don't think its going to be a huge amount, but
: still there will be some and I'm wondering if this added volume needs to
: be countered with more volume at the bow, to maintain the same angle of
: attack (I don't know if thats the correct boating term... but you know
: what I mean) on the water.

: Thanks in advance,
: Joubin