Robert,
Boats are funny creatures. You can write about them, but nothing can compare them like sitting in them. Boats are more then just a set of performance and ofset numbers sitting in the water. A boat choice is more then drawing a circle on a comparison matrix. That is part of it but you have to figure on methods opf building, types of water and trips you go on and....the thing that happens when you walk down the beach are drawn to one boat beyond all others try her out and then jsut have to build her. ITs the the one that tugs at your heart strings that gets ya building.

If your looking at wanting to compare the various models side by side in the same water. I strongly suggest checking out the east coast or the west coast wooden boat Rendevous. The west coast Rendevous is in Port Townson WA and the East Caost is on Newfound lake NH. Both are coming up pretty quick which means ya don't have to wait 6 months to check em out.

Walking the beach line up is really something to watch. I watched countless first time folks walk down the beach looking at a the possibilites and then get knocked out by the boat that said it all to them. They start to loiter, stroke the combing, admire the curves. Pretty soon they have the boat turned over and are looking atthe hull shape and soonest are shimmying into a spray skirt to go try it out....The folks building there next boats are in there sharing what they know. The designers are in there sharing their knowledge... Its a pretty awesome way to compare the specifics and the energy that comes off these boats.

Besides getting to walk up a quarter mile of differnt boats and try out anyone ya want, you also can get a lot of good how to info and a lot of stuff to spark your own creativity about waht you like don't like etc.

Ya don't have to show up with a boat. The desire to build one is all ya need.
Beleive me you'll be back next year with a boat and more dreams.

see ya at Rendevous
!RUSS