: I am 200lbs, and
: I plan on using it for short outings on local slow moving creeks
: and small lakes and I would like to be able to do some limited
: fishing from it. Is the 12' model just way to small?

FWIW, I, personally, am not impressed, at all, with their designs - as stated before, there are much better options, for free, on Tom Yost's website. As also noted, Tom's site does have intricate step by step illustrated instructions, but his site is odd to navigate. Keep clicking "next page" or "last page" on the upper right . . . .

As for 12' being too small for you, it's not. As for 12' being too short for a useful boat, it's certainly not. As for 27" being too wide, again, it's not. Solo canoes that size were popular a century ago for a reason, and, now, thousands and thousands of hideous plastic recreational kayaks are sold throughout the USA every year - and most all of them are very close to that size. For the uses that you have described - which are exactly what MOST paddlers use their boats for - that is an ideal size. Is it the most efficient at going somewhere? No, but that is not the point. Rec. boats are convenient and relaxed to use, and great for poking about in twisty (slow moving) creeks and backwaters. A wide, stable boat, with a big cockpit is sure nice to fish from, too.

My recommendations for a recreational SOF boat are Tom Yost's "Sea Tour 13" (wood frame), Percy Blandford's "PBK10" (from the 1950's), Rushton's "Wee Lassie" canoe, Platt Monfort's "Nimrod 12" canoe (34" wide!), Robert Morris' "Recovery Kayak," and - yes - my own "Chuckanut 12" recreational kayak (12'x30"). Of these, my boat, the Sea Bee and the PBK10 are all made with plywood frames, like your old boat.

As for canvas, it works fine, but is not necessarily inexpensive. Typically, you'd want to use #10 duck. There are many (better IMO) skinning options, though.

For the most inexpensive option, check out Craigslist - there are often many used recreational kayaks for sale, cheap. They're plastic and ugly and ridiculously heavy, of course, but fully functional.

Good luck!
Dave Gentry

Since I can rarely resist posting a pic of one of my boats, here's my C12 recreational kayak: