I was going to build a stripper canoe but then my wife bought me a kevlar canoe for our 20th anniversary. So I have all my strips cut and bead and coved. I have decided to build a Sea kayak for use in the Great lakes, Georgian Bay and some of the larger lakes in Algonquin Park. I have been canoing all my life but have only kayaked once in the Pacific off Vancouver island for the day. I quite enjoyed it and was impressed with how easy it was to paddle into a headwind that would have been hard work in a canoe.

I hope to use the kayak for day paddles as well as weekend tripping and once I get some miles under my belt and learn to roll I might want to try surfing the kayak in lake Ontario as there can be a pretty good surf here with an east wind.

I have decided to build one of the Guillermot designs both because I like the looks of them and as well they look easier to get into and out of due to the lower rear deck. Getting in and out of the kayak was the only part of kayaking that I did not enjoy, my knees did not want to bend backwards.

My dilemma is whether to build the Guillermot or the Night Heron. I like the looks of the softer chines on the Guillermot and may want to occasionally fish out of the kayak (just bass or trout not large ocean fish or salmon). But the Night Heron looks like it might take a load slightly better for tripping and the rear deck looks slightly lower. Is the Night heron easier to get in and out of?