: I think it would be difficult for most people to come up with panel offsets
: on their own, without CAD. I guess that's an advantage to building SOF,
: The stringer IS the spline.

Think it would be a toughie, then to write an article well enough to make the process happen?

The only CAD-less option I can think of would be to build using a keelson and chine log. (as Mike H. did with his S&G Walrii)

: There are bigger risks involved designing a hard shell personal- sized
: qajariaq. With a SOF, the builder has the opportunity to saran-wrap test,
: and then re-lash if changes are desired. With a hard shell, if you make a
: bad design, the options are limited regarding a fix.

There are less-than-optimum S&g plans commercially available. Folks buy commercial plastic and composite kayaks all the time with absolutely no option of a single change!

Shawn