: I have inherited a kayak from my grandparents. I do not have any information
: on it and want to know more about it. Pictures are here:

If the boat is currently near Seattle, does that mean that you are too? If so, consider taking your pictures, or the boat itself up to Bellingham.

The pinched in back and split front (bifurcated is the term) mark this clearly as a Baidarka. You may find references to this boat spelled Bidarka, as well.
The essential book on baidarkas is titled (appropriately enough) "Baidarka: The Kayak" by George Dyson. The picture below of the cover of the book --which shows a boat very similar to yours, right down to the handle on the bow deck and the layout of the deck lines--is from the Amazon.com website. They offer this book at: http://www.amazon.com/Baidarka-Kayak-George-B-Dyson/dp/088240315X/ref=sr_1_1/103-6492765-5636666?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193954731&sr=1-1 It has been around a few years and you may be able to get it through your local library. If they don't have it in their collection, ask about getting a copy by "interlibrary loan". Copy down the ISBN info from the amazon website and your librarian can use that info to search other libraries for a copy.

This book has measurements and plans from which readers can build their own baidarkas. The text is geared towards making a modern baidarka frame from aluminum tubing, but quite a few people have made boats with wood frames. I suspect your boat is one which was made from this source. A quick way to check would be to measure the existing boat and see how the figures match up with the design specs.

Dyson also wrote two other books, or a book and a collection of papers at least, on the subject of Baidarkas: "Form & Funtion of the Baidarka: The Framework of Design" , published by the Baidarka Historical Society, which seems to be out of print, but Amazon has a couple of used copies available--at a fairly steep price; and Skin and bones: Some information on the subject of baidarka building, which also seems to be hard to find and is also published by the Baidarka Historical Society.

Getting back to the idea of a Bellingham trip. Dyson has a company in Bellingham where he sells kayak building materials. He doesn't have a website for this place, but you can contact him at Dyson, Baidarka & Company
431 West Holly St., Bellingham WA 98225
telephone: 360-734-9226 fax: 360-671-9736 (I have also seen his address listed as 435 W. Holly) He would be an excellent resource for information on your boat. If you can't make a trip there, you might mail him a couple snapshots of your boat.

Hope this helps

PGJ