Well I've been away from boat building for the winter, and now that summer is rushing up to us and I sold my 30# yare I need a new boat. I have been looking at the ultralight boats made with many stringers held together with steam bent cross ribs, and covered with heat shrink dacron. Some of those canoes get down to about 10#'s and seem to be very nice craft. This is an example. http://www.geocities.com/colosseum/goal/4039/ My question is would it be possible to apply this same idea to a sea kayak? also I would do basically the same thing, but use kevlar roving/chordage as the ribs. I could simply cut small notches where the kevlar roving would lay on the stringers. soak the kevlar in resin, and make ribs that way. I think this could save a lot of time and energy in the building process. It would save the hassle of steam bending all those ribs, and would most likely come out about the same stiffness and strength wise. any thoughts? any one ever seen it done this way? any input would be greatly appreciated.

I am starting a small model of one of my own designs, whne it's finished, I'll post some pics of it.