: Hi All, getting ready to build a new yak, either a Night Heron high
: deck or a Outer Island(high deck if there is one). My first boat
: which I finished spring 2010 is a Night Heron low deck and I seem
: to have trouble getting in, my bio is 5' 8" 170 Lbs. size
: 11
: shoe and 82 years old and my question is, is the low deck trouble
: for most paddlers. I have read somewhere that the low deck
: was much more favored by paddlers so if my problem is age connected
: I will work on that. Thanks. Nick R.

Not sure I understand what you want to do here. Do you want to have two boats, or do you want to make it easier to get into the boat you have? Or are you simply addicted to building kayaks and looking at the next project?

Once you are in your current boat do you have enough room for your feet?

Do you have enough space to store all the gear you wish to take with you when you paddle or tour with your current Night Heron?

If the answer to the last two questions is "yes" then all you need to do is cut a bigger cockpit opening and make a new coaming for your current boat. You would NEED the higher deck version if your feet didn't fit, or you couldn't stuff all your gear in the lower-deck version.

Just curious. If we told you that the problem was "age connected" just exactly what would you do to work on it? The only thing that comes to mind would be growing younger--and I wish you good luck there ! Personally, I have been trying to do that for far too many years already, and not having any success, so if you know of any tricks, please share them.

PGJ