Patent ID: 8656854

Claim:
A kayak of predetermined length comprising a hull, deck, cockpit, the hull having port and starboard sides, a bow and stern, and steering gear including a rudder positioned at the stern, the hull having a wetted area extending through the forward two-thirds of the length of the kayak, a flat bottom plate extending from the bow in a curvilinear contour gradually rising toward the stern so as to be at or above the wetted area of the hull for the rear one-third of the length of the kayak, the deck affixed to the hull to form an enclosed watertight craft, the cockpit forming an opening through the deck and defining a station for a paddler to propel and to apply turning moment to the kayak with an oar, the cockpit situated forward of the longitudinal midpoint of the kayak so that the kayak burden is amid the wetted area of the hull and the hull having a moment arm for turning the kayak defined as the distance between the rudder and the cockpit where a paddler applies turning moment whereby the kayak encounters lower water resistance and high mechanical advantage when maneuvering as compared to a conventional kayak.