: Julie,

: I second the comment about trying the King. Before you build any strip-built
: kayak, you need to try the King. The Spring Run is a very nice kayak (I
: have one half-stripped in my basement), but the King's name describes
: itself quite well. People were awe struck by it's beauty, craftsmanship,
: and finish, but the way it performed was where it really shined.

And since very few of us can hope to emulate Joe's level of craftsmanship, at least we can apply our own crude methods to his design and get a boat that handles as well!!

: Just
: remember after you try it, "...thou shalt not covet". Joe's
: wife, Bonnie, was sure it had her name written all over it, but no one
: else could see it.

I wonder if it would be too much boat for a smaller person. (No offense to Bonnie's claim to ownership). But...The Queen has the wrong connotation for a boat name.

: I am wanting to paddle it again, but I already have
: two kayaks under construction in my basement, so I don't dare. Even so, I
: hope Joe publishes those plans SOON!

Joe has stepped into some new territory for wooden kayak designs. (Territory that only a few commercial kayak designers have entered). We're talking about a boat that seriously responds to body input. It really is a boat that you wear. I like it!

I think it would be a fun design to emulate Bill's X-project with.

: I the photo, you can see Shawn, Bill, Beth, and someone else(Pete???), can't
: keep their hands off of it. That is my "little" brother Curt in
: the forground.

Busted!

Shawn