[quote]I’m thinking the bevels on this one will be mellower to preserve the stability as I’m not really going to be laying it over just yet. 
I’m tempted to not bevel it at all but I’ll likely save that for board #3 when I’m down to a narrower board where it won’t be as affected. 26” seems small but it’s really a lot of foam if you’re not too big of a guy.
You will have to try and paddle this thing for sure when it’s done.[/quote]
Come to find out, wild bevels/chines don’t decrease stability; as long as your volume is low enough that they’re in the water to the rail line. Doing that, you’re using all of the foam and all of the width engaging in the stability.
IMO, any foam above the water is useless, and not doing anything for stability. If you have chine and rails out of the water, than yes…you will have more of a canoe “bottom”, and thus some tipping and stability issues.
Here’s the “secret” bottom…

…don’t tell anyone.

Turns out there’s some other unexpectedly pleasant pluses with it, but you’ll have to talk to me at the beach for those. 

EDIT: Jason, I rode a 5’1"x27"x100 liters ystdy, and was amazed at just how stable it was, and how easily it got into waves (for its size…yes, glide is decreased somewhat with the shortened length), so I think you’ll be fine going narrower. Don’t know how much narrower, but 27" was definitely more than stable enough at that length. 