> The bow is a clever answer to a problem of not being able to easily make a
> concave curve at the bow with stretched skin. The lower part of the bow is
> thin, extending the waterline of the kayak, whereas the top part provides
> more volume causing the bow to lift as it hits oncoming waves, and
> preventing spearing into the wave itself.

I have also heard that the upturned bow was used because they would often make landings on ice flows by just paddling onto the ice bow first. The high upturned bow prevented it from diving under the ice if they should hit it just as a wave lifted the ice.