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The Guillemot is the boat Nick set out to create when he first named his boatbuilding and design firm "Guillemot Kayaks". Nick wanted a boat with good all-around performance for his own use. It needed to be "sporty" with quick acceleration and maneuverability. The boat needed to be comfortable and easy to paddle to the places he wanted to be. After trying seven different design iterations this is the one Nick settled on. With a shallow V bottom and moderately hard chine the Guillemot is comfortably stable and maneuverable. The volume is brought well into the ends for a smooth ride over waves. The low lines of the deck keep the boat out of the breeze for good balance in cross winds.

With practice you will find that the Guillemot designs track easily. At first it will take some concentration to hold course, but with experience the boat will respond as if it were reading your mind. It will soon react quickly and easily, going where you choose just by thinking about it.

The Guillemot kayak was originally designed for an article in Sea Kayaker Magazine and appears in Nick's first book, "The Strip Built Sea Kayak." Look here to see pictures of the construction process. For paddlers who like this design, but need a larger boat, take a look at the Guillemot "L" which is 6% larger. Another alternative is the Guillemot Expedition Single. Smaller paddlers will want to look at the Guillemot "S" which is a 6% smaller version. It is suitable for paddlers who want a higher performance boat but find the average sea kayak too big.

Do you fit in this kayak?  Study our kayak fit chart.