Rehd
I have a great reluctance to put myself into a boat that has not been constructed using methods that have passed the test of time. I am not saying that I am not interested in progress and innovation. Progress and innovation should be well thought out with the idea of making a superior product. For instance, I will only use Lloyd's approved marine plywood in my plywood boats, I will never go out onto the water in a boat that has a hull that may break because of wood or glue voids. I will only use waterproof glue. I will always make a test scarf joint and bend it to failure to test the wood, the glue and my skill.

Think of how much wood there is in a kayak and how much you discard from a 8:1 scarf. How much less wood will you buy if you make 2:1 scarfs. When you look at the amount of wood that you need to build a boat, you probably aren't spending any more money. The price building a boat of the top quality wood is not that much more than unknown quality wood.

Water is unforgiving. When I go out onto it I bet my life on my skills and my equipment. I will not give my life the same value as a few feet of wood.

Forgive me if I am preaching, I just don't anyone to get hurt.

Pete Strand