Sounds like you’re looking for a general all around boat. Any of the building methods listed will work great for general paddling. As far as your size, Skin-On-Frame is very flexible when it comes to customizing boat shape. Width, length and height can be easily modified to fit you. As far as challenge, all 3 boat methods have their own intrinsic boat building challenges.

So I’m going to approach this subject from a different angle. Tradition. SOF is deep with history and roots. From a historical study standpoint you’ve got West coast Alaskan and East coast Greenland styles. The individual styles could be a course of study in its self. All the S&G and Strip built boats are based on traditional SOF boats.

I recommend the Walrus (modern adaptation of traditional boat). Its a beautiful boat that is straight forward and can be made to fit you.

Whatever you decide on remember KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). Wish I could remember that more often. Fancy designs and radical modifications don’t negate a better looking or performing boat. Clean lines and tight joints will do more to promote a well respected boat.

Good luck on your decision. Any help we can give, we will. Keep us posted.

Roger

: First of all, Thanks everyone for the responses. Pretty blown away here.
: Looking over the posts, and over my stuff, Let me write down What I have
: thought of, and answer's to some questions that have been written. BTW-
: I'm a junior, but I also need to get a Eagle scout project in sometime
: here, so I'm starting this one early.

: 1. In terms of where I will be using it, the most common area would be river
: or Lake. Slow rivers. I don't plan on doing any whitewater kayaking for
: awhile yet, and I tend to keep to rafts right now. The scenario that pops
: to my head is the fact that several of my friends happen to have canoes,
: and getting out onto several of the local rivers with them would be my
: first goal. I don't plan on taking photos of wildlife though

: 2. In terms of my Size- I'm 6'3", 152lbs, and a size 12 shoe. That's
: where most of my mother's worry comes in. Need to be able to find a kayak
: ( And I may just be reading the dimensions on sites wrong, which is why i
: am not sure yet), that will fit me.

: 3. In terms of help and tools, my father has a pretty extensive wood shop
: downstairs, so tools shouldn't be a problem. I expect that if I need help,
: my dad will help, as he has also wanted to do this. I also have two
: friends that are kayakers, although not builders, that have expressed
: interest in watching/helping.

: 4. Budget- I can get money, I have about 300 set away right now, and with
: both B-day and X-mas coming up, I'll be getting more. I tend to make about
: 100 a week from jobs, so money isn't too bad. around 700-maybe 800 is
: about my limit, unless I get help.

: 5. Time Frame- basically, I have to have it down by about November of next
: year. I'll know for sure in about 2 months, but that seems to be the date
: that will happen. I may have later than that, but it is possible that I
: may have to present as early as August.

: 6. Challenge wise- It doesn't nessecary have to be a woodworking challenge.
: Since I've never worked with fiberglass/epoxy before, that alone could be
: enough, even if working from a kit. I could even Tie that into my AP Chem
: class ( or the history of the kayaks to my AP History class), so
: diffuculty of the boat in terms of woodworking is not a nessicity.

: In terms of what I have been thinking: A strip boat just seems like to much
: of a time/money investment to be doing while also doing everything for
: school. I doubt, even with help, that I will have the time.
: Sew and Glue is where I have been leaning. I like the boats, and have seen
: several that I wouldn't wait a second to build.
: Fabric on Frame I need to look at more, as I don't have alot of research on
: this.

: Size is my major problem, and the one that I am not sure about. I do think
: that even with the limited woodworking involved with a kit, that I would
: probably be better off with one, because of time. Even in a kit, I'm going
: to be learning alot about the fiberglass, and the epoxy, let alone the
: smaller amount of woodworking involved.

: Thank you all that have responed, again.
: Tom F.