When I began paddling I was over 250lbs and needed a boat wich could handle me and cargo. I chose to build a chesapeake 18 from chesapeake light craft, just while waiting to buy a fiberglass boat or build a cedar strip. To make the story short, I never felt the need to buy or build anything else. I was really please with the boat. And since now even the glass boat are going hard chine you may be better going S&G straight away. Or if you really like cedar strip deck you could always build an hybrid, S&G hull with a strip deck.

Rob