I built this boat and she handles very well in rough seas. At 185#, I am a little light with no camping gear so I add ballast on the days with higher winds and seas. With your weight of 235# you won't need to do that at all. For camping there is plenty of room for gear and food.

On a recent trip there was a 5 foot swell running from the SE with a 3 foot breaking chop from the SW which was hitting me on the rear right quarter. I was loaded down with about 60# of gear and provisions and she was stable and I had to do very little corrective strokes to keep on course. With the upswept bow it is a very dry ride as well. Going into 3 to 4 foot breaking waves you get a little wet, but under normal sea kayaking conditions with 2 foot chop you are cruising along without a care.

She is also pretty fast; I have to hold back when paddling with my kayaking friends with fiberglass boats so I don't leave them behind.

I altered the plans slightly and made a recessed cockpit like Nick does on his boats instead of the way Rob Macks has it.

Rob Macks' FireStar is now peaking my interest, but we will have to see.