> Has anybody built/paddles Pygmy's new Arctic Tern? I am debating the
> relative benefits/deficits of hard vs multichine boats and whether this
> would be a good boat for me. I know the hard chine is theoretically more
> stable...does that make it more difficult to perform a roll? Any feelings
> about this issue or about this particular boat? Thanks, Toni Lipton

I don't think it is necessarily true that a hard chine boat has greater stability. It has greater *initial* stability, but a rounded bottom has more *secondary* stability. (Somebody can correct me on this.) So the ease of rolling would depend on what degree of rotation you are talking about. It would be easier to start the roll in a multi-chine boat, easier to get it totally flipped over in a hard chine boat, and the shape of the deck would determine the ease of rolling for the upside down portion of the rotation. In any event, my guess is that hull shape has a negligible effect on rolling, so the choice between hull shapes should be made on other criteria.

--Will