And this time, my definition of 'fun' is a maneuverable hull that is very responsive to paddler input, but still has room for my winter boots.

Other complaints that I have about my other kayaks is not enough volume in the ends of the hull. I paddle in the sometimes very close-together waves in Lake Ontario, and often my other hulls will pearl while surfing the bigger waves. Then it's an automatic broach.

I have started my design by reviewing the design of my Greenland qajariaq. I have paddled many miles in this kayak, in a variety of conditions, so I am well acquainted with it's strengths and weaknesses.

I have chosen to use the KayakFoundry software by Ross Leidy. Through the interface, the user may manipulate the hull shape, and then evaluate the results. After twenty or thirty iterations, here is what I have decided to build:

 
 
  I chose 17'4" OAL by 20" BOA. There is not much flare, the idea being to provide decent BWL while keeping the shear out of the way. The shear has been shaped upward, to provide more reserve bouyancy while in waves, and to provide more righting moment when the hull is on it's side.

The deckplan is shaped completely convex. This allows for more volume to be distributed toward the ends, especially the bow. The waterline aft is a bit pinched due to the vee-shaped sections aft.

The sections go from a full vee at the bow, to round, to somewhat of a chine just behind the cockpit. I tried to get some shallow arch there in the middle/aft to help the surfing. Then to a strong vee at the stern, to act as a natural skeg shape.

There is a lot of rocker in this hull, and CLA is quite close to (but behind)LCB. For these reasons, I am considering adding a drop-skeg system.

I do not expect that this will be a fast kayak. Both entry and exit are quite blunt, and there is a lot of wetted surface for a hull of this length.