: On flat water, the Arctic Tern is quite fast, and I don't have any
: complaints. What interests me about the Baidarka is two things; 1. I've
: read on this board and elsewhere that in rough water, a skin baidarka boat
: that can flex and twist is both more stable and faster, because the hull
: flexes to stay more level to the swells even though they're not level to
: each other, and that same flex lets the boat cruise faster over and
: through those swells. The Tern gets pretty bouncy in tall, close interval
: swells. And 2, that the stern rudder design helps in catching and riding
: swells.

#1 - The real Aleut boats were skinned with hides and lashed with animal products both of which loosen when exposed to damp conditions, it would be hard or impossible to replicate with modern materials. Also the Aleut boats were generally re-skinned and lashed ( where needed ) yearly. The 1934 Aleut hull gets pretty bouncy in chop also... any kayak of similar length would.

#2 - The truncate stern does work to a degree .

The Aleut multi-chine hull is well designed but not possess inherent magical qualities!

: So that's my thinking. If someone is down around the Santa Cruz, CA area, I'd
: love to check one out on the water. So far, I've never seen one around
: here. I'd even drive up to 150 miles to try one out.

: Let me know... Try Kayak Builders of Southern California
http://home.earthlink/%7Ekbsc