: Do you have a perfect roll already?

For that matter, does anyone have a "perfect roll"? (hint: the answer is NO) We are all just between swims.

Rob's point about reentry difficulty cannot be overstated. A boat needs to be easy to get back into during a rescue. The process also needs to be simple and intuitive, so that in an assisted rescue, you're not wasting precious time explaining to your rescuer what you need to do to get back in. Additionally, anything that requires extra hands and extra dexterity will be a liability.

If one tries to reinvent the wheel, one ultimately ends up with...a wheel. In the case of kayaks, the most simple, effective system already exists as a result of thousands of years of development and you're not likely to be able to improve upon it significantly. Also, keep in mind that when you're dealing with sports equipment that affects your safety, function is king. If you just want a piece of wall art, build whatever you like, but if you want a kayak, build one that works.