I just built the Chesapeake 17 and it is definitely great in waves. I've only had it in 4 footers, but I wouldn't have dared to go in them in a canoe or rowboat! My wife has paddled it, but it is a bit big for her. She's about your size and wasn't heavy enough to carve turns with it. I think letting her paddle it with my 240 cm paddle was too much for her as well. You could try the Chesapeake 16. It would have slightly less speed than the 17, but still great wave performance. I'm sure it's a heckuva lot faster than any plastic boat even if it is a tad slower than its bigger siblings.

> Hello -

> My husband and I are trying to decide on the right boat to build
> for me. I am 125 pounds and 5 foot 4 inches tall. I am looking for
> a high performance boat for day trips, or weekenders at the most,
> along rivers and for wave surfing in the ocean. Is the Patuxent 17.5
> a good choice for me? I have good experience in kayaks and feel I
> definetly need a step up from my current kayak. Any information regarding
> the performance of the Patuxent would be great. Or if you can recommend
> another kit boat you may think is better. Thanks for you help. - Holli
>