> Better get to work on hers pretty soon. She's still deciding 16.5 or 17 ft
> length.

Go with the longer length, and, if she is lighter than average, consider going with a narrower boat. Maybe an inch or so narrower.

Here is my reasoning: If you add length, the boat will have a greater flotation, sit higher in the water, tracking may suffer and it may be more prone to being blown around in a breeze. This is more noticeable with a light paddler. BUT, if you make the boat narrower you lose a bit of that flotation, the boat rides lower, and being narrower it tracks better, too.

The combination of narrower and longer hull should give a higher theoretical hull speed, as well as less drag, so a smaller paddler (who one would assume is less muscular) will have an easier time paddling and keeping up with the more muscular paddlers. If speed is not a concern, then the narrower boat should be a bit easier to paddle, as well (less drag)

Just a few thoughts.

Paul G. Jacobson