: . . . I'll leave kayaks built from PVC pipe, recycled aluminum siding or scrap
: copper plumbing to those so inclined.

Is this the time for me to mention my ideas on concrete canoes and kayaks, "birchbark" canoes made from sheets of linoleum flooring, copper-bottom boats made from roof flashing material, SOT boats carved from sheets of styrofoam building insulation, SOT "iceberg" boats carved from blocks of ice (strictly for arctic use) or SOF boats covered with skins made of recycled newspapers?

I've pondered plans for using copper plumbing materials, as well as copper gutters and downspouts--and they seem too expensive for me to experiment with right now. I hadn't thought of using recycled aluminum siding (thanks for the suggestion), but I had given some thought to using recycled aluminum printing plates.

You are perfectly right that there are plenty of tried-and-true designs and construction techniques already available. The variety of these techniques evolved only because someone was looking for something different.

There are people who like to tinker with different ideas and see if they can find something useful in their meanderings. Guess I'm one of those. If I get anything useful out of my work, I share it. If I screw up, and get a lesson in how not to do something, I pass that wisdom along as well.

Thanks for your comments

PGJ