Thanks for the replies guys, I guess it just proves that ideally one should try different kayaks for comfort and fit before building! Trouble is I don't have that luxury, and way back when I first started this project it didn't really occur to me that there could be such big differences from one design to another.

I don't think remaking the whole deck would be the route I would want to go down as I have completed the deck, including the coaming, apart from one or two small details and fixing it to the hull. I also spent a lot of time on a design of sweeping and crossing curves etc in different woods - so no intentions of painting it to disguise any alterations if I made them.

Bill's comment on bringing my legs up through the keyhole to give them a stretch now and then - yes I could do that! I am 63, still fairly supple, and yet to experience knee or hip trouble, so that's not a problem.

Thank you John for taking the trouble to measure and compare sizes with the NDK Romany and saying it's considered to be a good fitting boat for someone my size. I already feel a lot happier about staying with the recess as is and enjoying what could turn out to be a good fitting boat! And there is enough room for my feet - just nowhere near as much as in the Chesapeake. I haven't had a chance to get back in the boat yet but don't recall noticing the sheer clamp would be a problem. The recess has also levelled out the whole profile of the coaming ring and now makes a smooth curve all round instead of arching up to the peak of the deck - and as you say, the spray deck fits much better as a result. I don't think there were any specific details for the cockpit opening in the book, either for actual size or exact positioning, and I just went with more or less the same size as the Chesapeake as that suits me and the spray deck I already have - so it's probably a bit narrower than the intended design of the Resolute.

As Marc says, it's probably a very individual thing. And taking into consideration everyone else's comments, I think I will go ahead and finish the boat with the recess as it is, and see how it works for me in practice. If for some reason I can't live with it, I will know what to look for in my next boat!

Once again, thanks for all the input, I guess I needed to hear what others more experienced than me might have to say.

Phil