How does Nick's s+g work for *you*?

Given your size differences and given that if you are going to be doing any of those trips *together* you will need two kayaks, it seems to me that you would want to build a boat that fits *her*-- which will not be the same boat that fits you. If I were you, I'd rethink interchangiblity as a prime criterion for kayak selection (unless there is some really compelling reason that you haven't named). You wouldn't expect her to be able to use your hiking boots, right? So -- choose a boat to build that is dimensionally friendly to your fiance, and you paddle the s+g you already built. (I hope that it fits you!)---

Another thing to consider is that the "sustainable speed" she's unhappy with probably isn't related to boat weight. I just returned from an 8 day trip with a friend -- she paddled my Artic Tern and I paddled my Prijon Yukon Expedition (a HTP plastic boat). Both were fully loaded with camping gear. The combo of me and the loaded Prijon outweighed the combo of her and the loaded Tern. She had never kayaked before, but had previous canoeing experience. The Tern is an inherently faster boat, but I was easily outpacing her in the Yukon on Day 1, until I coached her further on stroke technique so she could get some power on her stroke (she had been leaning back and paddling with her arms only) -- once she started to lean forward a little and use her torso and follow through on her strokes, she could keep up with me-- and she found paddling easier, too.)

Julie Kanarr Wilsall MT