: At the cockpit the deck raises up a good bit higher compared to the rest of
: the deck. I am afraid that just doing a big radius there may look funny. I
: am wondering if it should be more elliptical maybe? I am pretty sure I
: will have to just try it on the boat and see. But maybe someone has been
: down this road and has some advice.

If you're a fair weather paddler you can do anything you want with your deck shape, but if you paddle in rough water you'll find out fast, why the Brits made their Greenland inspired kayaks with a peaked fore deck.

A flatish fore deck will give you a face full of water in rough seas. As the bow dives and water piles up on the fore deck the water will be catapulted into your face. A peaked deck will shed water to the sides as the bow rises.

Rob

If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way.
Mark Twain