I built a CLC Chessy 17 and am in the process of building a stripper now. I absolutely love the Chessy and have had NO problems at all handling the boat in adverse conditions loaded for camping. Whether the waves are hitting me straight, astern, quartering into or away from this boat takes it easily. I'm not just talking 15 knot winds with small waves, I'm talking 25 knot winds, 3-4 foot breaking chop on top of 5 foot swells rolling through at the same time. Anyway, I was on a trip recently when someone asked me why I would want a wooden kayak because they are not as resistant to rock damage as $2500 fiberglass kayaks. My boat handled as well as (even better than) the other 4 glass boats in the group. I explained how it has already proven how well it handles (which is a great reason to have one), but could not really dispell his fears of punching a hole in the hull during an accidental dumping of the kayak on a ledge.

Anyone here have and experiences with glass boats being holed? How about S&G or strippers? I did an expedition layup (two layers on the bottom outside and one layer on the inside) on the hull and KNOW it can take some pounding on rocks. To me, I would rather have a boat that handled superbly so I could AVOID the nasty rock dumpings than have a boat I couldn't count on but might survive a sharp rock.