A few quick calculations with my engineering geek calculator:

Helge: Jack is 104,3 kg and 1,91 m tall

Jack: Helge is 5'6 229lb.

Helge, with your shorter legs, you would probably fit into the Guillemot fine. Maybe Nick can tell you if your weight is good for the Guillemot.

In Nick's SEE Kayak links directory, he lists Emil Kellanders building page. It is all in Swedish (which I can't read, but maybe you can)

I don't think there's anyone who can't build a kayak. If it's something you really want to do, then there is no reason not to build one--you'll have the dedication to keep going even if you make a mistake or two. There are very few mistakes that are not correctable.

Shawn

> I am building a Guillemot Exp. as my first kayak project and am 85%
> completed. The skills that you need to build it are no different than any
> other strip built kayak. If you are concerered about the time it takes to
> build a striper, a stich and glue design will take less hours and can be
> easier. I also bought a kit so that I didn't have to loft the forms or
> mill the strips.

> The key skills that I needed came not from carpentry experience but from
> reading books, reading this BB, and a little practice.

> Key skills

> 1. Attention to alignment details when setting up the forms. Mostly a
> matter of patience and taking your time to do it right.

> 2. Ability to use a block plane to scarf and fit strips at an angle. I did
> the hull first so I could practice where it would be less seen but it is
> not a skill that takes years to aquire. The cuurves at the bow and stern
> which give the Gillemot it's beautiful line can be dificult to bend but
> cheater strips make it easy.

> 3. Fiberglassing - most of what you need can be learned from reading

> As for the model, I chose the Exp. Single because I am tall 6'3" and
> large 230lbs (don't have my metric conversion )

> If you have the hours to devote to the project I wouldn't worry about lack
> of skills.

> Hello everybody!