Mark,

I just finished my first kayak, which was of course a Guillemont. I have been out with it about 4 times and I still have not quite worked out the best seating position. Initially, I tried sitting at the very back of the cockpit, nearly against the coaming. In this position the boat is uncontrollable, it weaves all over the place. Next I tried about 4-6 inches forward from the back of the lip, it improves the steering control significantly. My last position was with my back about 3-4 inches ahead of the rear of the coaming and next time I am going to try it just a little further back (about an inch). I think that I have it just about right now.

Also, the addition of footbraces improves boat control significantly. I did not put them in at first because I had no idea where my seating position was going to end up. I have them in now and unfortunately, it is the combination of moving the seat and the footbraces together that needs to be refined to find the optimal position to make the boat go where you want it to go, when you want it to go there. Just my 2 cents worth!

Greg N.

: I'm sure this has been asked before but I didn't see the question
: or an answer in the archives so please forgive me the
: redundancy. I'm building the Guillemot from Nick's book. There
: is a reference to the "CB" (center of buoyancy?) at 9'
: 1 1/18" from the bow. This appears nearly centered in the
: cockpit. This seems too far forward to place the seat as I'd be
: more inclined to place the seat well aft. That said, there is a
: photo Figure 9.7 on page 147 that shows a backrest and seat
: placed well forward of the aft edge of coaming. I guess my
: guestion is if there is a measurement for placement of the seat?
: Is it acceptable if I simply mount the seat near the aft end of
: cockpit and hang the back rest off the back edge of the coaming?
: Thanks, Mark