Chad,that's pretty much why I asked Steppenwolf if the Nordkapp in question is composite (glass). You are absolutely right about poly boats, but Valley isn't the only manufacturer who has problems with their plastic boats. I've also seen bent P&H, Old Town, and probably others that look like the warped keel line must have come that way from the factory. That certainly doesn't mean they are all that way, but when this happens, it should be caught at the factory, or at least at the dealer. I happened to be at a dealer when they received a shipment of boats and they went over them very carefully to assure that each boat was straight, etc. I assume this is because they've been burned a time, or two. This was not a Valley, nor P&H dealer.

I don't mean to dump on any of the manufacturers mentioned, nor polyethylene boats in general, because I happen to own a couple of poly boats that are very well built and one in particular that is still as straight and fair as the day I bought it. Not that the other has changed, but it had a couple of very minor imperfections when I bought it.

I might get in trouble for this, but Current Designs seems to have their poly boats down to a science and they are single layer. I'm sure they've probably had their troubles too with that material, but in my experience, I don't recall seeing any of their plastic boats that were crooked.

Lest anyone believe that composite boats are immune from deformities and flaws, think again. Under the very best of circumstances and with the best craftsmen available, I would imagine it is very trying to produce totally flawless boats and stay within a cost parameter. I'd better end this rambling before I mention a brand that does an exceptional job of making the best boats possible--that for sure would get me in trouble.