: Hi folks, . . . I built the Greenland Deck Night Heron
: . . . its handling in rough water has something to be
: desired . . . my decks are frequently awash in waves as
: small at 18"-2'. This has the effect of greatly increasing
: the drag and it feels like someone is applying the brakes . . .
: But what if I cut the deck off
: and set it aside, raise the shearline by adding an inch or so of
: strips straight up on the hull, then re-attach the deck? . . .

Perhaps the first step, if you have not already done so, would be to verify the waterline in still water is where is it supposed to be.

Your idea is a good argument for attaching the deck with screws and sealant! I would expect the major difficulty would be removing the deck without excessive damage which depends how it was attached and what internal registration features there are which might get in the way. How much difference the extra inch or so of height will make is a judgement call. It might not stop the water coming on board but at least encourage it to leave earlier.

I have never paddled a boat that low in the water so the following is pure guesswork. There may be easier ways to reduce the water coming on board ar make it leave sooner. One alternative approach would be to observe how the waves travel over the deck, note smooth flow and turbulent locations, where it comes on board and leaves, and try to visualize where and how the drag is created, then look for the simplest steps to mitigate it. For example, if the bow augers in and water travels smoothly along the foredeck with only skin drag then breaks around the coaming creating turbulence, it may be simpler to try to raise the bow or arrange something to deflect it smoothly closer to the bow. If on the other hand the water is being sucked in behind the coaming onto the afterdeck, perhaps raising the stern or modifying the coaming shape will help.

I would certainly look at anything that might reduce the amount of work, especially the kinds of thing that can be done in a quick and dirty manner to see if it works before undertaking a proper fix.