I am in the throes of indecision here! I'm getting ready to build my first kayak, and choosing which one is getting silly. hmmm s&g are easy and cheaper, stippers are gorgeous, on the other hand, it's your first, etc. etc....arggg!!

I have decided to base my choice mostly on what will suit my needs as a beginner, (had some training in plastic boats, years ago), in the paddling end of things. But I want to build a beautiful craft too. My wookworking skills are pretty good, and I have built many large complex projects, (3 aircraft and a car among them), so the choice between stripper or s&g is not important. I'm large, 6' 240lb and inexperienced. At my age of 50+ I may never master a roll, though that will be the first order of business once I get wet. My paddling will be on fairly quiet rivers, the Great Lakes, and large ponds, but it's unlikely that I'll get to the sea with it. I live in SW Ontario. I'm not that interested in long trips. I guess I want a beautiful, easy to paddle, relatively inexpensive, all round kayak. My short list so far: Georgian Bay Panache Chesapeake 17 Guillemot S&G Epedition Are there others that should be on this list? Are any of these boats inappropriate for my needs? Your input would really be appreciated.