I have also been looking at home built performance craft. I looked at the Patuxent as a fast performance craft, but it does not have much volume in the bow which would probably make for a wet ride in the waves. When surfing the bow may have a tendency to dig in and take your for a loop. When I talked to CLC about the boat they described it as a very fast flat water boat but said it would be a wet ride in the waves compared to the Chesapeake.

So let me introduce you to my dream boat. It is the Betsie Bay Kayak: Arctic Lite 19'

It is a Greenland style, long narrow boat that has got to be fast. It is in the same price range as the CLC boats. It is a skin boat which are known to handle waves better because they are more flexible. It has fast assembly, one or two weekends. Because if the construction it can not carry that much gear but I'm sure you could get a weekend trip out of it. And it is light, at about 35 lbs.

For your stature it may be a bit long, but you may also find that due to the narrow beam it is easy to carve your turns and it will take you exactly where you tell it.

I would at least look into it. Start with the link below.

CHad