: I am suprised that little bit will make a difference but that's why I am
: asking. I will simply remove the pad from the ply backer and try it again.
: In my defense it was a little choppy out but I wasn't prepared for what
: followed. I will have to get up early this weekend when no one is around
: and try it again. My wife is still laughing at me!!!! What would increase
: the stability, a flatter bottom through the beam cockpit area or just flat
: out wider beam?

That 'little bit' sure can make a major difference. When I launched my first VK, with the designer along for the paddle, we forgot to let the Thermarest pad deflate until I barely touched the bottom - so I was up in the boat perhaps 3/4 of an inch, and it felt a bit tender. Gerry let the air out, and, presto - it felt a lot more stable.

I'd suggest getting the ply backer out too; try it with just the bare hull, just as a test - if it stiffens the boat up sufficiently, then you can work on designing a system that's comfortable but right on the hull's bottom. The Thermarest works real well for us...

The other factor is seat time - it can take me a while to get comfortable in a new boat, especially if it's lively - once I feel confident in it, I relax physicaqlly, and can 'go with the boat' instead of being tense and 'fighting' every twitch and quiver. I'd get as low in the hull as possible, and then give it a few days of piddling around in civil conditions, before doing anything drastic :->))

A flatter bottom in the beam area, and a wider beam, will both irncrease initial stability (the ability to resist the tendency to heel), but may also adversely affect secondary stability (the ability to recover from heeling). Boats with high initial stability are great on flat water, but can be less forgiving in rougher conditions.