: Decisions, decisions...

Yeah, there are many things for me to consider. I live in the Chicago area, and am not aware of any significant wooden boat building resources here, outside of normal lumber yards. I've heard some of you in the Northwest talking about buying 16' red cedar lumber from the mill; I don't think I could get that here!

I'm most inclined to work from a kit, but will consider just buying plans and getting started bit by bit if, come March, I still don't have enough $$$ for a whole kit. In that case, I guess I'm most inclined to start work on... I dunno... I'll have to see what kinds of materials I can get here, and at what cost.

If I can afford a kit, I'm really growing more and more interested in the CLC Annapolis Wherry. I love the lines of that boat, especially with their "lapstitch" construction. And I'd love to eventually outfit it with the sliding seat rowing unit. For the time being, rowing with kids, I can put in two pairs of oarlocks so one of them can row too. And if the boat is not quite as stable as I'd like for wiggly little kids, I'm thinking of ways I can set it up with outriggers - maybe something I can run across the transom? I figure I could build them such that they are:

a. easy to take on and off
b. not in contact with the water if we're level, but if someone leans to far and we're rolling to one side or the other, the outrigger on that side will offer more than enough extra bouyancy on that side to keep us upright.

Waddya think?

I'm also attracted to the Pygmy Wineglass Wherry. It's shorter, wider, and slower, so it may be more stable, but I wouldn't be able to put in the sliding seat, which is definitely something I'd like to do eventually. On the other hand, I could sail it.

Anyhow, first I need to get creative about getting my wife's kitchen floor put in, so I can actually spend some money on boat stuff!