I wholeheartedly concur, but it gets even better. Last September at R2K, Joe's wooden kayak blowout at Port Townsend, I had the opportunity to paddle one of his boats. People stood in line for the Silver all weekend, so I was out of luck there, but was able to take his Spring Run out for a test drive. As good as they look, and they are stunning, they paddle even better. As stable and comfortable as my favorite TV chair, tracks like a dream, responds well to heeled turns. The most amazing thing was that the boat was dead neutral. No weather- or leecocking at any point of wind, with no rudder. No tendency to broach in following seas. Enough reserve buoyancy to go up and over whatever's comin' atcha. And durability? This was his "beater", been dragged around to boat shows all over the West for 3 years and abused my all manner of ham-fisted amateurs, and it still looked as good as my GBoat the day it was launched.

Not that I'm disappointed in the G, either. It's a wonderful boat, and I still love it. I owe Nick a debt of gratitude for furnishing the impetus and knowhow to get it done. But Joe really has the magic.

: I am not one to see a boat more as art then as a functional vehicle, (they
: are both) but if I ever hung one on the wall of a museum (and I would
: never desecrate one
: in that way) However, if the artistry of this hobby were ever to just once be
: put up purely for artistic appreciation it would have to be these three
: boats.

Joe is probably too modest to advertise this, but he recently finished a wallhanger commission for the Disney folks!