Great story! I know how you must feel. I have a 14 and 16 year old boys. Only the 14 year old likes paddling.
Please take a second look at the boat selection. The Spring Run is a very big boat. Just my opinion but I think she would be a lot happier with a lot less volume.

Jim Horlacher

: A month ot two ago, you may recall that I frantically posted a question
: looking for suggestions for boat designs for my 13 year old daughter who
: suddenly took an interest in kayaking. In addition to the boat
: suggestions, there was also a general feeling that I should strike while
: the iron was hot. I'm very proud of the way she's handled the situation
: since then, and wnated to share some results with you.

: We haven't started yet. I was going to, but she said the dry dock wasn't
: large enough for two projects, she didn't want to see me lay my OI aside
: to help her, and she wouldn't have the time over the summer anyway, so she
: asked that I not do anything about her boat until late Fall. She said
: she'd paddle one of my store bought boats until next year. That shocked
: me, coming from a 13 almost 14 year old.

: She also said that when the time came, she wanted me to guide her through the
: process rather than using her as "just a helper" but since she
: has no boat or wood experience, I'd have to first show her, then guide
: her, then just monitor her, and when we came to tricky parts, that I could
: do it myself if I was concerned about her doing it. Again, I thought that
: was very mature, but assured her that nothing was so tricky that she
: couldn't handle it if she was simply attentive and patient.

: Next came boat selection. She's leaning towards the Spring Run by Redfish.
: She's a rookie paddler, so knew she couldn't handle an advanced boat, but
: didn't want to build a boat that she'd grow out of too soon either. She
: felt like the specs for the Spring Run would give her enough of a
: challenge for the first couple years of paddling, but is also such that a
: paddler of many, many years would find it a very good boat. Hmmmm, she's
: using logic and thinking ahead - how 'bout that!

: Regarding the artistic elements of the boat, she's going with a light
: (cypress) deck, a stripe or two along the sheer, and probably a darker
: hull. She understnads that a darker hull will show scratches better, and
: her reply to me was "Dad, I'm going to paddle it, not display
: it" - WOW!!!!

: For artistic value, she also wants to strip a dragon into the deck using dark
: colors. Hmmmmm - sounds cool. Can I... ah, I mean "she" do it?
: We'll certainly give it a shot, if that's what she wants. My very artistic
: sister is working on a number of sample drawings for us to pick from.

: I mentioned to her that with her athletics and schoolwork, she'd be pressed
: for time during the week to work on it. Her reply was that she could gain
: some time by staying off the phone and cutting out TV time. - DOUBLE
: WOW!!!! But now, I'm getting both concerened and a little scared (who
: kidnapped my real daughter???)

: So, this will be her project, done her way, using her timing. To tie it to
: recent threads, I've taken an interest in the strongback on wheels
: concept. If we can push the strongbacks around the drydock a bit, I can
: work on mine and she can work on hers, as long as we're not both on the
: exact same step and needing the same tools. But, if we are, it'll just be
: another excuse to go buy more!!!!

: Anyway, I just wanted to share since I got so many great responses to the
: original post. And the original posts also convinced me that I need to
: build a SOF sometime soon as well!

: Thanks, all.

: Rick

: PS - My almost 12 year old opted to just by Perceptions Umiak, then inherit
: one of my boats after I've built a few. Hmmmm - that's pretty smart too, I
: think.