As you can tell from your responses to date, there is no shortage of strippers that qualify as serious seaworthy designs. One might argue that you can build a stripper that is more serious and seaworthy for your particular size, shape, paddling habits and habitats, etc., than you can buy, because the manufactured boats must necessarily have a bit of "one size fits all" quality to them.

Anyway, I faced a similar quandary to your's last year at this time, and decided on a Night Heron. I was unable to find samples of any of the boats I was interested in to take any test paddles, so the investment of money, and especially time, in building a boat I hadn't paddled was a bit intimidating. But I launched the boat this August, have paddled in all sorts of conditions, including 20-25 knot winds on open ocean with up to about 5 foot breaking waves (not just "swells"), and haven't had the least bit of regret about my choice. This is a very serious boat in terms of performance. Not enough volume for more than a couple nights of camping, but it is much more stable than I would have expected for a boat with a 20" beam, it tracks well despite being highly maneuverable (usually, one good leaned sweep or other turning stroke will give me at least 90 degrees of turn, often more), and it does not weathercock at all (no skeg or rudder needed). Even though I built mine very light with 3/16" thick strips, a lot of planing and sanding, and 4oz glass (total weight 33lbs), I still find it to be very solid and have had no concerns about its seaworthiness. (For the Outer Hebrides, I might have wanted it a bit heavier, but for Casco Bay, Maine, it seems more than sturdy enough). And as you'd expect, it accelerates very quickly and is fast at cruising speed. Only "negative" I have noticed to date is that the foredeck gets pretty wet as waves ride up around the sides a few feet behind the bow, but so far nothing has actually reached the cockpit, so for me, the ride is still quite dry.

I've attached a picture of mine to give you an idea of what the boat's overall lines look like. My boat has the "low" foredeck and "standard" height rear deck, so the "greenland" aspect of a raking cockpit coaming is a bit less than with other deck height combinations. If you want other pictures from other angles, let me know.

Whatever you decide to build, I'm sure you'll love it. Good Luck, and enjoy.

Roger T.
Orr's Island, ME (US)

: i intend to build a strip plank kayak.i like the look of one ocean ,guillemot
: night heron and the red fish designs. ideally i am looking for a design
: closest to british designed p h quest or valley aquanaut in other words a
: serious seaworthy design
: any ideas, thanks