: The paddler’s CG is 3 inches aft of the LCB because the empty kayak’s CG is
: 12 inches forward of the LCB.

Dave,

Thanks for the input.

The LCB for the boat(s) in question are based on a 250 - 300+ lbs displacement
at the 4.5" - 5" waterline. I am not baseing anything on an empty boat. I
normally place my coaming inside /back 18 inches aft of the LCB at the
computed displacement. I simply have found that moving aft a bit from the LCB
improves weathercocking characteristics without degrading performance.

Many commercial as well as several homebuilt designs weathercock as has been
discussed on this forum...and in many cases, a more aft seating position would
correct the problem, regardless of what the LCB to paddler center of mass
numbers tell us.

I've experimented with seating position over the years on the 40 or so boats
I've constructed, and that's the conclusion I've reached. Your conclusions
may be quite different.

It's a lot easier to move forward if the coaming is too far aft, than to move
aft if the coaming is too far forward

An interesting sidenote to this are the different weathercocking traits I've
found in comparing SOF folders ( flexible), SOF non-folders (less flexible),
and hardshells of the same design. The most nuetral weathercocking
characteristics I've encountered have been in my inflatable / folder / hybrid
(very flexible) designs. When the water gets rough, these are my boats of
choice....

Happy New Year,

Tom