: I went to a boat show today and saw tons of kayaks from all of the major
: makers. Some shapes I was expecting from my research into strip building.
: Others I was not. I want a kayak for gentle touring/fishing/goofing off in
: still water. In strip designs I can only find kayaks that are very long
: and narrow. I have a very small car and limited storage, I really want a
: short kayak (I am 200 lbs and 6' 5"). All of these makers have kayaks
: that are under 13 or 14' and take my weight. They look short and fat. What
: is wrong with them? Can I take a longer design and just compress it a
: little to fit my storage needs? Do the commercial guys not care about what
: they sell or are the strip designers only publishing almost perfect plans
: and not bothering with plans which have many shortcomings?

: Any opinions wouls be appreciated.

These shorter "kayaks" are just a different branch of paddling than
the "sea kayaks" most people talk about on this BB.

These short wider kayaks can trace their origins back to the late 19th
century when decked canoes like the "Rob Roy" and "Wee Lassie", amoung others,
became popular for crusing the lakes and rivers of Europe and America.These decked
canoes or double paddle canoes used a kayak style paddle and had the
paddler siting on the hull bottom unlike traditional canoes.

They combine the shorter stable hull of a small canoe with the speed and low wind
resistance of a kayak. AND they can be very lightweight and easy to carry and store
in a small shed.

The origins of sea kayaks are from the native arctic boats. The origins of these small kayaks
are from the European decked canoes of the 19th century.

They are not as fast as the long narrow sea kayaks, They are better suited to lakes and
to poking around marshes and brooks.

So for sheltered sea coasts and salt marshes, or lakes and rivers, the doulbe paddle
canoes/ kayaks are great boats.

I love them myself, that's why I design and build them.

All the best,

Rob Macks
Laughing Loon CC&K
www.LaughingLoon.com