Modifying a Kite plan for more speed?

[BigandSmall]

I thought it best to start a separate thread for this question but @dutchlennart mentioned that the Osprey/Kite hull isn't a speed demon in my Kite+6% thread and it got me thinking. If you were going to modify the stock Kite design for the following parameters what would you do?
-Paddler and gear total weight roughly 340lbs
-48 to 56 strokes per minute with a 610 cm² (94.5 in²) area double blade.

I find my 6% upscaled (in every direction) build very stable. While it's comforting to have the extra stability I assume that comfort comes at the expense of speed. Not having a design background but still curious it has me wondering if I might have been better off keeping the stock form dimensions and just increasing the spacing between stations but up to what length? 17'-17.5'-18'? Or a mixture of % increase and length increase?

Or is it a better idea to just look at different designs? I have no interest in a boat that surprisingly overturns once in a while but would be interested is trading some stability for efficiency should I build another.

This is probably a question better suited for winter when everyone in bored but I'll put it out there anyway.

Opinions?

 

[dutchlennart]

Greenval barracuda..
Not sure how well it behaves with 340 lbs.
I Did paddle that one and it is yummie with my 80 ish kilo's
I would start with that and maybe scale that. Or look very carrenfully at a blackwater or a swift cruiser.

Or put a sail on your kite.

 

[ThatPaddlingGuy]

I'm interested in this as well. I love the look of the kite, and the manoeuvrability and tripping capabilities of it. But I know my partner would prefer something with that capability but also some speed: she grew up surrounded by racing canoes, so even when we go for a mosey along the shore she tends to automatically start going up through the gears. That said, safety and functionality is always top of the list.
I've considered a Kite stretched 6% and with the forms left as designed. I wonder how much difference there would be.

I just love the look of the kite. Then there's the Merlin, which sounds like a hull designed to be faster, but with less rough-water comfort maybe? Everything is a compromise.

Canoes are fun, and variety is the spice of life.