: Hey,
: thank you all for the responses to my first posting. First, it is not that I
: am afraid of fiberglass or epoxy, it would be Cathy that does not like
: prolonged messes.(Being married almost 30 years you tend to learn the
: buttons to push and which to avoid)I am in the process now of doing a
: 12x14 addition to our storage shed as a workshop and building/storage area
: for my upcoming 2 kayak undertaking. Now on to the selection process, we
: live in North Central Florida, High Springs, home of the Sante Fe River,
: close to Sawanee River, Icnutucknee, Paynes Prarie,Silver River,Cross
: Creek,Crystal River,Cedar Key marsh, and numerous others. All of the
: primary waters we will be on are calm,meandering waters with some small
: rapids, there is always the possibility of planning a trip to N Carolina
: for some whitewater, but not often. Most of our outings will be day trips,
: however I wnat the option of being able to carry camping gear in one of
: the kayaks. Cathy is 5-6, so I am lokking at either a Solace XL or an
: Osprey 13. I am 230lb and losing thanks to Adkins, For myself I am looking
: at a Lightning, Solace EX, and an Osprey Standard. In Cathys I am looking
: for good tracking,easy turning and speed. In mine I want pretty much the
: same, great looks are important also and one the underlying problems in my
: selection process.

The Lightning 17 is 17 feet long, the Solace 16', work space should allow for a couple of feet on either end for adequate room to move around the yak. The Lightning can easily support your weight, the Solace is good for the wife. I paddle a Lightning 17 and later on this year am starting on a Lightning 14. Their great boats. As a general comment on yak speed, the longer the yak and the narrower the beam, the faster the yak. As it is, the Lightning 17 and Solace are great trackers and very fast boats. Bear in mind that while you build the keel must be set and glued straight or no kayak will track straight. I think once your wife gets into a yak she'll always thank you for building them.

Robert N Pruden