: I'd encourage Tom to look into both methods if he has the time.

Bill

I agree. Normally, I tend to avoid these worse case scenario discussions
like I avoid the plague. In reality the concerns expressed are usually
unrealistic and are usually not based on fact, but rather on speculation.

One "fact" that I can add is that I made a screwed and glued wooden SOF
many years ago based on a George Dyson design.

It's current owner has paddled it extensively in very difficult conditions that
I personally wouldn't venture into, and the kayak has performed flawlessly.
The screws are brass, the glue epoxy, and the stringers redwood left over from a woodstrip project.

My epoxy/lashed wooden or aluminum SOF's are stiffer than my aluminum folders,
but both perform the task they were designed for. I've never experienced a
structural failure in this type of kayak, nor is it even a concern. I tested
out a non-traditional folding double last week and it's flex would rival that of any skin kayak.

Build what you like and enjoy it. There are many more similarities than
differences in the various kayak types, be they hardshell or SOF,

Tom