Shooting Star is a Wood Strip sea kayak based on Aleut baidarka indigenous skin and frame kayaks of the Aleutian Islands. I’m the first to make a hard shell version of this outstandingly seaworthy kayak design. This design excels in strong winds, huge seas and surfing waves. While I installed a retractable skeg on this baidarka, I find it has little to no effect. The baidarka design (without skeg) handles wind and waves without effort.
Hatch covers are held tight with attracting pairs of rare earth magnets for a waterproof seal. Carved effigies of salmon, seals and sea mammals create adjustment bars for the shock cord hold downs on the deck. This reflects a more traditional outfitting style.
