To late, the question is moot.

This struck me as a really odd post. Perhaps you just caught me a in a grumpy mood, but what was the point? This really seemed like a poorly contrived story. (FWIW, so does the lead in to your materials test post earlier)

Yakman? why the alias? Maybe thought that this would be a poorly received post, perhaps you have experince in that kind of response from other internet activities?

Why are you posting this here? after all you bought a kayak. There was nothing about it, it's design, how it was built, impressions of it. There was no general information on building kayaks either, there was no information about mr super artist dude that builds somthing else. At least your materials test post had some information in it, to bad that the lead-in was so unbeleivable that it makes it hard to beleive the results.

"Because we were going on vacation, the builder asked me to stop at a beach that was only a couple hours out of our way." Huh? I don't get it, why would the builder ask you to go to a beach? Why one that is 'only' a couple of hours away? the kayak was finished, and since you had it in you possesion, apperently paid for.

"He starts telling me about my wife's kayak. Things he should not know and can not possibley see." Like what? sounds like he was telling you a bunch of horror stories about how bad your wife's kayak is? Never mind please don't tell me what. Since you did not build it, how would you know about anyting about the kayak that "... can not possibley see" (glad I'm not the only one that can't speel) Or was he speaking in general? If so how can he know specifically how your kayak was built?

"He invites me, my wife, and the kayak to lunch. We drove a few miles to a small building where he is building boats this summer with an apprentice. (He tells me my local builder was his apprentice once, also.) " Uhh, usually the apprentice learns from the employer/teacher...usually, the same technique. Often, he gets better than the teacher. Unless the teacher was not very good at teaching.
Also, you give the impression you did not even get on the water with the kayak. Tell, me if you bought you kayak, why would you be interested in going to some other builders shop? Do you suddenly want to build one? What was the impression of the kayak your wife had? how did it handle, was if fun to use? No no, don't talk about that, talk about suddenly, after loading the kayak on the car/truck/trailer/whatever, driving for a few hours, (so a 4 hour round trip) lets forgo the paddle, or cut it short so we can go see another builder? If I was going onto the water the first time I was out, even after a 5 minute drive, I'd be out on the water. Everyones different, but I find it hard to believe. someone would want a kayak enough to pay for it, finally get it, then decide not to go out.

"They makes us a nice lunch, and show us their work, and then they haul the wife's kayak into the shop to look at it while we look at their kayaks and their shop." Gee, you must have been up really early to load the kayak, drive, paddle a bit (or maybe not). I guess a late lunch makes some sense, something I'd be willing to put off, as I'd be so excited to get out on the water. But if I was that excited, it brings me back to the point above, I'd be paddeling, not distracted by some stranger on the beach.

"I am sure that different people are attracted to different styles of art, but you guys are sure missing something." I don't want to know what this something is either, mostly right now I just miss paddeling 'cause of this stupid wrist.

"I thought my wife's kayak was beautiful, but the boats I saw there were something else. " Oh look another sentance that says nothing, except you use the past tense on the opinion of the wifes kayak. That is extreamly unfortunate.

"Since no one else mentions this builder's name, I will not." There is a reason for every thing. If no one mentions this builders name, I'd expect no one has heard of him. But then this board is not about finding builders... it is about building. builders that are held in high regard are often mentioned. Mostly it is the builders that take the time to post, and share good information that are mentioned. Usually, with a thank you, or some respectful comment. Alternatly, as a previous poster indicated, there was at least one builder that refused to allow any reference to him or his site here. If you are refering to that builder careful, you may have litigation against you in the near future... I said earlier, there is a reason for every thing, your reason for not giving his name comes accross to me as both weak, and snide.

Anyways, I sure hope you are happy with your wife's kayak, more importantly that she is. It would be a real shame is some stranger convinced you that it was a poor buy decision, before you really had a chance to really use it.

(I've a funny feeling though that it will be destroyed within the next few mths... and we will have a report on how horribly it failed cause it was so poorly constructed.)

Oh, and my apologies to the group, and to yourself... I'm sure this is the worse of the two posts, if not one of the worst messages ever posted. I hope to do better on my next post. To bad I wasted my time and band width with this one. It is just that one thing I beleive in is truth, and this post...

hmm... now the question is "to hit the post message, or to not hit the post message, that is the question..." Probably shouldn't but..

If you are going to 'flame' me the email is at the top. I am curious if I am really off the mark on this one. I will not post a private conversation on the topic to the board.

regards,

Myrl.