? Thanks Mike,

? I thought that the cheek plates were NOT supposed to be attached to the
> hull. I can see it would be stronger, but would it then create the hard
> point in the hull where it's attached?

I think you're right about attaching, but have you ever put your weight on the coaming getting into the yak and wondered about strength?? If the coaming extends down and touches, the load is shared w/ the hull. I think the sitontop idea is the only approach for actual attachment.

? I plan to do a foam pad seat similar to what Joe Greenley does, so the
> cheek plates would have pads on them, and they would allow stuff to be
> stored behind them, but the seat wouldn't hang from them.

? Dale

The aesthetic potential for extending lines, grain etc. is the argument here, I would certainly not hang it. But if hip pads go up to the coaming ht, no real point.

-mick