: I would like to get opinions on these two kayaks and or companys. I am new to
: this and plan to build my first this winter. I'm looking at Chesapeake
: Light Craft - model: Chesapeake 17 or the Roy Folland Sea Wolf.
: Any opinions on the quality of these boats would be helpful. THANKS!

Even though this simple question is similar to others that have provodked extended discourse, I'll keep this brief, and answer your question with a few more questions.

First though, the final quality is up to the builder: YOU It is not beyound your means to build a very high quality boat, even if you have limited skill with tools and this is a first-time effort. Reading the instructions is key.

Whether these designs will be suitable for you is dependant on information that you need to give us before we can give useful advice.

1) The boat has to fit you. How tall and wide are you? (affects beam, cockpit size, legroom) how much do you weigh (affects displacement and balance) How big is your shoe size? (affects deck height -- a low deck is murder on a guy with big feet.)

2) the boat has to suit your paddling conditions and experience. Where are you at geographically? What kind of waters will you be using it in -- rivers, open ocean or sheltered bays? Do you want a boat that punches through waves, or one that flexes and flows over them, or would you like to surf on them? Are you experienced enough to know the difference? (These questions affect the design choice) Do you know how to roll a kayak, or are you planning to learn, or is this of no interest (Affects whether you want a design that is easy to roll?)

Get back to us with a bit more information about yourself and your location and you'll probably find people who have paddled these boats in similar circumstances who can give you the benefit of their experiences.

PGJ