: Heck my 10' whitewater boat won't go in a straight line for a stroke,
: requires continous corrections, can't imagine doing that in a 6 footer

Practice Bill ! I paddle a Pyranha H2 all winter on rivers - that's under
10' (has to be to go inside my car!) and I can paddle it in a straight line
just paddling on one side without looking where I am going (in flat water:)
Needs a bit more attention and strokes on both sides in fast moving water ...

from Mike's original post

: If you notice in the attached picture, I want a little rocker so I have
: made a "keel" with a 1" radius that I will glue to the bottom plank to
: give it shape.

It's not clear from that pic whether you are talking about a keel strip in
or outside the boat. If it's inside, there is a risk it will come free of
the bottom panel(s). If it's outside, it will give you tracking, but will
catch on rocks in a river and capsize you at every opportunity. River boats
need flattish or gently rounded bottoms to avoid sudden surprises. The
controls comes from the chines which you aim to catch water, but be clear
of rocks ... However, a forgiving river boat (suitable for a relative
beginner) wants soft chines - hard chines (such as you get in a stitch
and glue boat) give you great leverage to carve turns on eddy lines, but
do require considerable skill to get the balance right. They are pretty
vulnerable to abrasion, too.... especially at the ends where the stem and
stern meet the bottom panel !

Andy