Wm Watt wrote:
Michael Daly wrote:
Wm Watt wrote:

at one time all canoes and kayaks were symetrical.
Care to back that up with something resembling a fact.

Moreover, at one time all river kayaks were not only symetrical but
were a standard 13 feet long. It wasn't until computer programs became
available that all the different shapes appeared.

A look at Charlie Walbridge's old book on whitewater kayak making proves this to
be nothing but bull****. It also doesn't address sea kayaks and recreational
kayaks.

To this day, there are people designing kayaks without computer programs. It
ain't rocket science.

Any tension on one side is compensated by compression on the other.

Glad you sorted that out.

If you only reinforce on one side, as Brian pointed out, you'll get a weak
joint. Hull-to-deck seams on some cheaper sea kayaks are only taped on the
inside and are known to have split. No one I know would trust a one-sided seam
for strength.

Mike