: Actually the bow is practical too, rarely are native kayak designs
: done for purely cosmetic reasons, the lower part extends the
: waterlines forward keeping them narrow for maximum speed, the
: upper part provides the buoyancy so the bow doesn't stick itself
: into steep waves.

I suspect you are correct, Bill. They probably started with boats of each type and then decided that a combination of the two would give them better results. Bow shape symbiosis.

: Why or if it's split is the question.

In order to create the necessary contour they would have had to draw the skins together between deck and keel by sewing along a line from bow to a foot or three towards the rear. This would give them what they were looking for, but the unsupported stitches would easily pull through the skins. The answer to this problem would be to split the bow so the skin could be wrapped and sewn with sufficient support and strength around wood.

This takes care of the practicality of the design, but what about all the different shapes and styles? They probably figured that once they had a practical boat why not dress it up in an aesthetic manner to denote the individual, family, clan, geographical area, whatever.

So, primarily the split bow fulfills function; secondarily, the style fulfills form (artistic expression).

Just guessin', JR