A lot of it is personal preferance. Do you want Stitch and Glue, or are you going with a stripper? S & G's come in different catagories too. Chesapeake Light Craft are mostly "hard chine", four panels plus the deck. Pygmy Boats, on the other hand, have what I believe is called soft chines. They have 12 panels to stitch together, including the deck.

You'll have to wait for more posts for info on the strippers, I haven't yet had the pleasure of building one.

If you are inexperienced, you might want a boat with a little more stability than some. My suggeston would be to test paddle if possible, if not, call some of the makers and ask. Most are more than happy to answer questions and provide a little insight.

Anyway, good luck, and don't be afraid to ask questions here. there is a lot of good advice, information, and support on this board. It's the best I have found. Remember, the only stupid question...is the one that goes un-asked.

SEE YOU ON THE WATER,

Rick