As to the reason for the shape of the ends of the Baidarca, I'm no expert, but I've seen illustrations showing another paddler taking hold of the end of an inverted boat to assist in the recovery, so I thought that the end design provides an easier grip on the boat, remember, they were oiled for water proofing. Several other Alaskan kayaks are similar to this idea. I really like the simple grace of your origional profile. Also I am more of an empirical builder than a trained architect. I would have to sit in a floating hull to get the exact position of a cockpit rim. Hope to build a skin boat some day of my own design and mold off it for ultra light laminated boat.I've seen that a multi chine hull can be built very light in a mold as the chines act as stringers and the skin between can be one or two layers of the right material. How about a 12 foot, 40# dory for an example! If my white water building experience is any example (aprox. 90 boats) I could build two boats a week in about 40 hrs., or less with the simpler lam. schedule. But I'm retired sort of, I'm just sayin'.
