Marc, I do know what you're saying about raising the recessed part of the cockpit, and Mick's illustration does clearly show what you mean - in your case perhaps. I think my concern was more about the lack of general space to move my legs around in if I felt the need to. With my clc boat I can more or less put my legs where I want as it's so roomy, and great for keeping any kit to hand when I'm fishing. The Resolute is so different it rather took me by surprise when I first slipped into it while still on the strongback. With the balls of my feet on the foot-braces my toes are almost touching the underside of the deck and sheer clamp, with my heels a couple of inches or so apart on the midline. I cannot bend my legs outward enough to get them anywhere near the hull, my knees tend to end up in the angle between the recess and the deck sides - in that position the gap under my knees to hull bottom takes a comfortable fist, any wider apart and it feels painfully unnatural. It's either that or legs flat on the bottom of the boat. Knees both together and raised higher fit tightly through the narrow part of the keyhole (but comfortably one at a time).

So any major surgery for minor gain in space now seems rather pointless taking into consideration everything that's been said - until I've at least paddled the boat and can decide if an inch or two here and there is really going to help. Or perhaps I will find that a snug fitting kayak is really not for me after all - unless it's a bit like owning a family car and a sports car at the same time - different horses for different courses! My paddling is generally sheltered harbours, creeks, or lakes, and at a leisurely pace enjoying the wild life or a spot of fishing - hence the choice of stable boat.

Phil