After building several S&G kayaks in the 35-50 pound range, I was determined to try for something less than 30 pounds. I made a 16'x 20" S&G using 4mm Okoume on the bottom, 3mm Okoume on the sides and deck. The exterior hull is glassed with one layer 3.25 ounce satin weave glass, overlapped at the stem and stern. The only other glass is a 2" tape of glass on the inside of the chines and centerline, 6" tapes inside the stem/stern and the exterior of the hull/deck joint. The interior of the hull deck joint is handled by a WRC shear clamp. There is no glass on the interior overall or on the deck. The deck has a lot of camber forward making it very rigid. The aft deck is almost flat and required several 4mm x 1.5" plywood deck beams, but I can sit on the back deck.

The result is 27 lbs all up. I am 5'11" and 185 lbs. and the boat feels quite rigid and confident underway though I don't usually paddle in high wind/wave/surf conditions. I have used it twice a week since last summer, fall and winter and have found no structural defects to date. I don't have much in the way of rocks to contend with here on the Chesapeake.

Craig