I got to thinking about my seating in the cockpit today, too. I felt much more stable with my back pressed against the rear of the coaming, so that's where I planted myself. I don't have a seat or back band in it yet. Putting myself to the rear like that might be putting my hands that the widest part of the coaming lip, making it easier to hit it.

I'll pick up some thick closed cell foam before I head out again, and get a section built up to support me in the middle of the cockpit. I'm just not sure how I'm going to secure it in the cockpit without sealing off access to the rear of the boat.

A skirt's on my priority list. I'm not sure if I've got the patience to sew one up, with all the beautiful weather we've been having. It's hard to work on a project knowing I could've just bought it and gone paddling. I checked out some prices on nylon spray skirts earlier today, and they're not bad.

I'll definitely be checking out the Hudson River Greenland Festival next year. I tried getting time off of work for it this year, but it was just bad timing. There's a local shop a couple miles away that's got a decent reputation from what I've heard, so I'll be checking them out for training.