Congrats on building your first kayak!

2 3/4" seat height is too high, as I'm sure you discovered. My experience in my two Greenland S-O-F kayaks is that the lower you can sit the better. I put 1/4" thick wood slats over the ribs and either one or two layers of 3/8" ensolite foam over that.

Shortening the kayak will make it more tippy assuming the overhangs are the same length as the 17'. Despite S.W.Greenland kayaks looking much the same they are quite sensitive to seemingly small changes in hull shape and weight of the paddler.

Greenland replicas are fun boats to paddle once you have the skill to be comfortable in them.

Tom

: I just finished my skin over stick frame kayak. I built it per the plans in
: "Wood and Canvas Kayak Building" by George Putz. I followed the
: plan for the 17 foot Southwest Greenland model. The only difference I
: reduced the length to 15' 9". The kayak is either really tippy or I
: don't know how to handle it. It is only the second Kayak I have ever been
: in. The other was a rented double sea kayak. I think my seet elevation may
: be too high. It is 2 3/4 inches from the top surface of the seat to the
: inside surface of the keel. My keel on the bottom is only 1/2 inches high.
: Does anyone have any comments before I start trying to lower the seat or
: add more keel? Thanks everyone/ Ken