If you're not sure what boat to build, you might check out the site linked below. I used it and ended up building the Chesapeake 17', a beautiful boat, which is supposed to be a much improved version of the Cape Charles. There's also a lighter (LT) version of it but I like the room and comfort of the full version

(The LT version, if my memory serves me correctly, sounds remarkably like the result of George Roberts' design change suggestions which were scoffed at by CLC at the time. I think he also recommended lighter wood, though, which would worry me in big water, but I know nothing of the engineering.)

I'd reccomend getting the plans, rather than just building from the book.

> Also, did you just fiberglass tape the seams only, versus glassing the
> entire hull and if so any problems with not glassing entire hull?

I've read that glassing the hull is more for protection from wear and tear than for structural strength. I used a lighter weight of glass than recommended, but I'd be concerned about scraping a hole right through the wood, with no glass.

> Did you have any problems with the 1/4" bending to fit the deck?

Most people I've read discussing luan use 1/8" on the deck, but then have to glass the inside where their knees press against the deck so it doesn't crack when rolling. If you're going to use okoume anywhere, though, use it on the deck just because it looks so good and bends so well.

>What are the "catastrophic failure's" you foresee resulting from the 1/4"
>luan that wouldn't occur with 4 mm Okume?"

I've been following this bulleting board a while and have yet to hear of a kayak falling apart. It's possible the voids in luan may become evident at the worst possible moment, when you're in big waves and bad weather, but it seems that if the wood is going to have problems, they become evident during construction - wood cracking, uneven bending, etc.

There's great variation in the quality of luan, so a lot probably depends on your ability to select good material.

As was pointed out to me, if you're not confident about the material so you use more glass to strengthen it, you could ending up spending more on epoxy than the okoume, without getting as good results.

One argument for using luan is that since it's so much cheaper, it's better suited to a first project, followed by the real kayak made later with okoume. That makes sense, but if you follow this logic, I'd suggest making the first boat a modest boat made for small water where it's not going to be subjected to a lot of stress. Something like CLC's , which is also a great boat to have for freinds who haven't kayaked before.

That's actually going to be my second project, and I'll probably use luan for that.

A final note - when I'm out on the lake and have a few waves peaking four or five feet high, I don't regret spending the money on the okoume.