The review you've all been waiting for: or, the review I've been waiting to be able to finally write!

I launched my redecked Squeedunk Cormorant 16 on December 9th during a night paddle. Didn't really put it through its paces until December 22nd.

This kayak has very low initial stability for a tall man. Not that I'm complaining, but it's something you notice. The hull panels are a maximum of 9" wide, so this makes for a pretty narrow bottom. I'm guessing waterline is about 19". Grant shows 22.5" as the standard beam. My kayak with its lower (hence, narrower) deck has 21" of beam at the widest point of the sheer (near my knees). I believe I kept the hull pretty true to form and didn't change the rocker (hence narrower beam), but that the lower deck made the beam narrower. Grant, if you don't mind, could you measure bow and stern rocker with the kayak sitting on a flat surface? (we'll compare notes).

If you look at the image of my kayak superimposed above Grant's rendering, it looks to have a little less rocker. Oops. Unscientifically measuring pixels in the image, it's 81 pixels bow-to-bow, 84 amidships, and 85 in the stern. So, at the very least, my yak isn't sitting straight.

The kayak performs beautifully. Strong tracking (but I'm used to a Guillemot and a VCP Avocet!). Edged turns are moderate, but the boat really cranks when you lay it over. I may have pinched the ends a tad more than Grant's original, but it is very easily driven at normal cruising speeds. We're talking super-efficient...like I could take a nap and keep up. Again, I think this may be one of the ideal small paddler's kayaks.

Had it out in up to 1' wind chop. Bow submerged, but popped up quickly. Again, I may have pinched it more than Grant's original, but it shed water so quickly it popped to the surface before the water could even roll 2' up the deck.

While I don't think I'll want it as a rough-water coastal playboat (my Guillemot and Avocet fit this niche) A good rough water boat should be highly maneuverable, and I don't think my flat aft deck would be fun in following seas. I think this could be an ideal instruction kayak; quite straight-tracking, so it doesn't look like I'm 'wandering'..."okay class, now paddle in a straight line. Do as I say, not as I do!" It also tracked well while I was throwing a harpoon.
It also has Amazing. Yes, truly Amazing secondary stability. Up there with the Romany. You can edge this yak and hang off one knee for minutes. Again, a good demonstration/teaching yak. Again, not having to say, "Do as I say, not as I do!" It will be very easy to demonstrate bracing, sculls, draws, and edging.

And rolling? Oh, wow! Okay, I haven't rolled it. But I side-sculled with my ear 1" above the water. Hey, it was 38º water. If I can suspend my head over the water with a gentle scull, this yak will roll and balance brace easily.

The deck is of my own design. I wanted something I could roll easily, which led me to the flat aft deck. I can easily touch my shoulders to the back deck. (7" from keel to deck.) Foredeck is 10.5" from keel to peak. Rather than a sheerclamp, or deck meeting the hull sides straight-on, there is a 45º bevel strip. This is easier to implement with a strip design, but would be do-able in pure S&G. This, too decreased the beam by about 1/2", and also prevents some knuckle-bashing, and will be easier on the boat for boat-over-boat rescue demonstrations. If Grant wants, I could make this deck design available to others.

I think this could be one of the ideal kayak designs for a smaller adult (especially women), who are shorter and have a lower center of gravity, and for whom most average designs are too big. For a skilled larger adult, this is an amazingly playful kayak.

Another point I would like to make is that custom decks (not only hybrid to the designer's original size and shape specs), but custom shapes are a great thing to consider. Make sure you check with the designer before doing so, as poor design choices could unknowingly reflect badly on them. Not as risky as designing a complete hull yourself, you can implement features you like and still get a great-performing kayak. Everything is tradeoffs, but it's good to see what does what. My low, flat aft deck is easy to roll over, but cuts gear space, and could be buried by a following breaking wave. The recessed coaming is wonderful (thanks Mick Allen!). The peaked deck lost some volume forward--it doesn't ride over waves as much, but pops to the surface faster than a flat or cambered deck would. A recessed coaming and lowered aft deck are #1 considerations for a rollable kayak.

Kudos to Grant for a fine design.

http://www.squeedunk.com/c-16.htm

Shawn