I've finally given up trying to find the "perfect" boat, so I'm now thinking of building one. I currently own a 17' stripper canoe which is great for tripping with two people, but is nearly impossible to navigate solo in the wind. I also have a 14' tandem rec kayak that paddles great, both solo and tandem, but weighs 80# which gets to be a little much when cartopping by myself. I'll probably keep the stripper, but I want to build a kayak that I can paddle solo and have room for my 50# dog. I want something that I can take on lakes, big rivers (no whitewater), and shallow creeks. Anything less than a 30" beam makes me nervous with the dog and I'd like to stay away from the longer models to facilitate creek travel. It also needs to have at least a 300# capacity. I am also a complete novice when it comes to woodworking. Any suggestions for good model plans or kits-including any modifications that enhance the qualities I'm looking for? Maybe something along the lines of CLC's Mill Creek 15 with a wider beam? Thanks!