The petrel seems quite sturdy to me the only time it gives is when my 200 lb. butt is flattening the vee bottom slightly when i am sitting in it while planted in the sand. I would not be aware that it was flexing if it were not for the fact that i can feel a slight rebound flex around my hip and thigh pads when a wave rushes ashore and lifts the kayak as i try to knuckle walk it into the surf. Any one else notice this, it is pretty subtle? The kayak feels really stiff when it pitches over a steep wave and the bow loudly smacks the back of the wave.

Kayaks move slowly(when i am paddling) so a little flex from side to side probably does not matter. The flex along the length (rocker line) is minimal. The bevel strip works for me. I have always wondered what happens when you fair out a cove and bead glue line around areas with heavy curves one must remove a fair amount of the outer cove lip. I have a good amount of cedar milled if someone wants to run it though a shaper and hand me some cove and bead for a build. I am game. heck if nick were to hand me some petrel play strip plans I will go out the next morning and break out the 3m spray for the templates. May even try a staple or two for the first time.