: Current 5'6" and 220, but dropping fast. I plan on mostly day trips,
: flat water, or near-shore Casco bay. Nothing too rough. -

Hi Drew,

Thought I remembered Rob having put a weight range on his Shooting Star so I checked. His range and other info is included verbatim below. You seem 10% over the higher end of his range, but at 5'6" it could balance out, but I am not sure how being 10% over the max weight will affect your enjoyment of this boat. Why don't you ask Rob directly @ (laughing_loon@shaysnet.com) and get his view on how this extra 20 lbs over his max estimate will work out for you. Personally I like both boats, and my personal thinking is if one is looking for a boat for taking on big water than the North Star is preferable, but if this is not expected then I would go with the Shooting Star (IF Rob says that you will not be too big for it to paddle at the right "displacement"). Perhaps if Rob says the Shooting Star is less than ideal because you are a big paddler for it then you could make the North Star and consider making it with a recessed cockpit and also just custom lowering the relativly high peaked deck of the original design, therby making the North Star less of a high volume boat over all but still retaining its correct hull shape. At any rate for any of these ideas suggest going to the horses mouth for the answers:-) By the way will the North Star or Shooting Star be your first boat? Steve seems to power right through building both boats, but they do require patience on the bow and stern on the part of the builder. Good luck with either.

Joe

Shooting Star© is a new, smaller, lower volume, baidarka from Laughing Loon. The dimensions are 16' 6" long and 21" wide. The suggested weight range is from 100 to 200 pounds. It is nimble, responsive and fast.

Shooting Star© is not a scaled down version of the North Star©. The volume is lower, especially in the rear deck. The hull is slightly flattened to improve stability in such a narrow kayak. Though the Shooting Star© is only 21" wide at the widest point at the sheer line, stability is good and secondary stability
excellent. She is very responsive to paddle strokes yet tracks very well.

Shooting Star© will appeal to the paddler who wants a fast responsive day boat. With all the great speed, tracking and handling characteristics of the baidarka style.

The Shooting Star© is also a baidarka for the smaller paddler, with enough storage space for extended trips. It has the forward and stern volume typical of the baidarka style which gives the Shooting Star© as much storage space as many larger length kayaks.