> I think this needs a little clarification. If all you do is lower the seat
> closer to the foorboards, you wil not change the freeboard. You will have
> to hold your paddle higher up, which may or may not be awkward, depending
> on the boat.

>> Keeping your weight as low as possible in the boat lowers your center of
>> gravity, and increases your feeling of stability. but it does this at the
>> expense of freeboard, or the amount of the boat that is above the water
>> line.

Good catch Mark. What I meant to say was that in any given boat, a heavier paddler should have a greater sense of stability than a lighter paddler simply becasue the center of gravity is lower. But, the heavy paddler would force that boat deeper into the water than a lighter paddler. Thus, with a heavy paddler there would be less freeboard. since you are building htis boat, instead of buying it, you have the option of building higher sides to keep out the waves and restore the freeboard.

A low seat also helps to lower the center of gravity.

In both cases your paddling position is affected. Same goes if you make a wider boat. You want ot avoid hitting the boat with the paddle. A chimney shaped cockpit might be something to consider.

A paddler with a coach-potato physique (with their weight mostly in their butt and beer belly) will have a lower center of gravity than someone with an Arnold Shwarzeneggar physique (their weight in their upper chest and shoulders). Another reason to give up bench presses and take up pressing the remote control.

Paul Jacobson