: I plan on following Cunningham and Morris I also have the Star book and A
: book from some Guy In Greenland

If you follow the Morris sugestions on kayak sizing you should be able to get the size of boat needed for a paddler of the size and weight you mention -- although I'd build it a little longer than Morris would suggest. (maybe 10% longer) That is based on a strictly personal mistrust of anthropometric sizing.

When the fitting of a kayak is based on belly size, paddler weight, and shoe size, as well as fist-widths and arm-lengths then I may develop more faith in that system. Until then, I'll be a bit more conservative in sizing.

I'd suggest you make both boats from the same design, but make them different sizes if the paddlers are not of similar stature. Since you are building two boats it might be good to build both frames at the same time, if you can. Then, if your plans call for using ribs, you could start bending ribs for one, and keep on bending ribs for the second -- and finish all the bending in one day's work.

You may not need a strongback to build these boats, but making a long, narrow workbench or table will give you a convenient place to work. Get a sheet of 1/2 inch plywood, or 3/4 inch particle board and have the lumberyard rip it into two pieces which are roughly 2 feet wide and 8 feet long. Nail these on top of a frame of 2x4's and line them up to give you a 16 foot long and 2 foot wide platform which you can raise on legs made of 2x4 to create a workbench with a convenient height.

When you are done with these, shorten the legs,(or remove them completely) and give or sell them to the neighborhood kids who skateboard. They make good skateboarding ramps and decks.

PGJ