: I'm trying to make the decision between a Ches 17 or 17LT for my father.

: Just trying to help him make a decision since he seems to like more generous
: leg room in the cockpit. I just don't want to build a boat that is too big
: for him since I built a bit too big in hindsight with my 18. He's 6-2 and
: 180 lbs with size 11s.

The Chesapeake really isn't an enjoyable day-paddling boat*. I'm 6'-6", 185 lbs, with size 13.5 feet, and I have plenty of room. Given your father's size, I'm sure he'd have no problem fitting in the 17LT or even the 16.

*This is partly due to its very large size, and partly due to my making it resin-heavy which makes it unpleasant to load and unload from the roof rack.

As you probably know with your 18, on camping trips you can haul everything you ever wanted to, and then some, but this is all unnecessary volume for shorter trips.

Shawn