Susan, I'm 5'6", with an average build, and feel very comfortable in my Arctic Tern. I've also paddled the Pygmy Coho and Osprey Standard. Both were also very comfortable for my build. I have a female friend who is about 5'7" or perhaps a bit more building an Arctic Tern 14". And I'm soon to build an Osprey Standard for a friend who is 5'3" and who does feel a little undersized for my Tern. Also, I have a Mill Creek 13" that has proven comfortable for everyone who has paddled it, and that includes people ranging 5"3" to 5"10" and slight to medium body builds.

Now, if all that seems more confusing than helpful, I don't mean it to be. What I think you can take from it is that most of the standard sized kayaks will fit you. You may want to avoid the longer ones, or high volume ones, staying generally in the 14-17 foot range. But that can include quite a few kayaks. My friend buidling the 14" Tern went with it because she is going to have to put it on and off of her Subaru alone, she doesn't plan to do extended overnight cruising, and the 14" size suits the kind of water she plans to be in a lot (protected bodies). My 5'3" friend wants the Osprey standard because she finds my Tern a little less stable than she would prefer (she's not a natural water baby like some of us), and she wants something a bit shorter for maneuverability. If I were building another for myself, I'd build a Coho, because I really liked paddling it, loved its looks, and was torn from the beginning whether to build it or the Tern. Or the shorter West River, from CLC, that is also fine looking by my lights. The one I paddle the least is the Mill Creek, but not because I'm not fond of it, I am. It's just more of a calm water, sightseeing style kayak (although I loaned it to a man who I watched take it out in some incredible white caps, and he came back with barely a drop of water in it).

Give us some ideas of the kind of water you will paddle in, the use you will put it to (day trips, weekend or week long touring), your comfort level in terms of stability, and such, and you may get some ideas from forum members that will help you narrow things down along those lines.

And what a great use for a tax refund burning up your pocket! By all means, go for it.