> 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.

Mr. Neely, Check out the Resolute 16' strip built from Steve Killing. I think that the offsetts for this one are in the new Ted Moores book KayakCraft. You can see the specs on www.bearmountainboats.com in the "build a boat" "kayak plans section" It should be roomy and stable, and should be easy to strip.

For some other S&G boat choices, take a look at B&B yacht designs "Diva" 15'8" X 23.5". It appears to be similar to a CLC design and would look good with a stip built deck. There are also some more open kayaks...called Birder and Birder II. One is 13' X 26", the other is 15'8" X 28". Nice looking and they appear to be easily built. You could even modify the cockpit of the Birder designs to be more like a conventional kayak. Good luck. garland