: Hi guys,
: I am new to this site and am seeking advice on building another
: stitch and glue. I currently paddle a Pygmy Golden eye and find
: allot of weather cocking in following seas and winds. Are there
: other Pygmy boats or other S&G boats that I can build that
: handle better in these situations? I do most of my paddling in
: the San Francisco Bay area where wind is a big factor.
: Thanks for you help.
: David Kroll

Most kayak designers try to get as close to neutral as possible, but err on the side of weathercocking, as a leecocking kayak generally is harder to handle. As others have said, expedition/touring kayaks exagerate this characteristic. Adding weight especially to the stern can help, but too much can cause leecocking. The further the weight is towards the ends, the more effect it has. Play with different amounts in different places. Learning how to paddle in rear quartering waves also helps, and I have begun to prefer looser tracking kayaks that respond well to edging, in those conditions. Slight edging can really help. If you do predominantly day paddling, you may want a more appropriately sized kayak. Pick one for your designed weight and style of paddling. The Night Heron S&G works great for me, It is VERY neutral in all conditions. but I've ranged 185-215 lbs since I've had it. Several people in the 150 have complained about it's tendency to weathercock, and they are under the optimal weight for it. Without knowing your weight, it is hard to recommend a specific kayak. The Igdlorssuit folder that I built is also quite neutral for me. It was fun to surf any waves on and was very controllable, much like the NH is for me. Whe I was lighter, I had an Arctic Tern 17, and had some minor weathercoking issues with it. When I had it loaded for camping, it was neutral, but empty, it was sometimes a handful.