HI Duane, I just put my first coat of epoxy on last night on my Q.C 17. I would love to tlak to you more about how the process went for you. If you have any advice or tips tp make things work out better or techniques that you may have found work better than others. I've been waiting for somewhat warmer weather here in Olympia Wa. so that my epoxy would flow and soak in to the wood better. This weekend I'll do the butt joints and then get started on stitching. Can't Wait!

> After six weeks of building a Queen Charlotte 17, I launched
> it with my buddies from the Southern California Kayak Builders Club,
> Jim Gabriel and Rick Rubio. What a kayak! I can't imagine a better
> designed hull. It is stable yet easy to put up on an edge. It is reasonably
> fast and tracts great, yet it carves sharpe turns on an edge. Despite
> the wide and flat deck, which looks like an aircraft carrier, it rolls
> easy, because once the boat is just over halfway upright, the flared
> sides make the boat slide right under me. Extreme bracing is no problem
> either. The boat loves chop, and despite the huge bow, I haven't experienced
> any weather cocking yet. The hull is so well designed that it doesn't
> need a rudder or even a skeg. It's a great all around kayak and workhorse,
> and it weighs only 38 pounds. My hat goes off to the designer, John
> Lockwood.