: Hi George,
: If this is your first boat, and you want a rough duty boat, use 6oz. plain
: weave, which is the standard lay-up for most kayaks, Your finished boat
: will weigh 40-50#, Not bad if your launches are not far from the water.

: However, if your looking for a light weight (fragile) kayak, the 3.25 oz.
: tight weave glass that Bill recommends is a great choice. The tight weave
: uses much less epoxy to wet out, even 2 layers can create a lighter boat
: than a single layer of plain weave, but I would not recommend it for a
: first time builder.

: An alterative is 4oz. S glass, Some say it's not as clear as E glass, but I
: can't see the difference. I used it on a racing boat that has seen it's
: share of paddle dings and competitors banging into it. The
: "dent" factor is definately less with S glass than E glass,
: however, it's more expensive.

: I have used West's, System Three, Raka, and others. They all do the job, but
: Raka is priced right and with the blush free hardner, it performed great
: for my last three boats. You will get lots of opinions on the best epoxy.
: If you have deep pockets, go with West's or System 3 Silver Tip, if not
: consider the cheaper brands. Whatever you chose will work for you, just
: follow the directions.

: Good luck,

: Larry C.

Hi Larry,

Thanks for the feedback. Second boat, first stripper - and I'm aiming for lightweight - top of the car is getting higher every year! I baby the boats in terms of avoiding grounding them on launch/landing, but enjoy a bit of rough water (but then it's only inland lakes). While I will be paddling this some, it's actually for my 120 # daughter, too - I suspect the lighter layup will suffice. And so far, the RAKA prices look the best of the sites I've found.
And I notice it rated well with Vaclav's site.