Sean, there's no question in my mind you did exactly the right thing(s), and I want to post a reply mostly to tout the wonders of strip-built decks on S&G hulls for hybrid construction, which I'm pretty sure you're gonna agree with: I found the strip deck almost too easy way back when, and ever since have believed it's almost silly to use plywood when strips are so simple and look so much nicer (disclaimer: I said "almost" twice, absolving me of any crime). In any case, anyone who doubts his or her ability to deal with strip-building should be encouraged to try a hybrid. Stripping decks is WAY easier than stripping whole boats.

In the meantime, S&G kayak hulls tend to make very very nice handling boats in my humble, but highly accurate, opinion. What's not to love about hybrids?

: Hey Kurt:

: I toyed with the idea of keeping my old deck but there were too
: many things about it hat I did not like - I fooled up and made
: the cockpit too big and sloppy, I screwed up on the pad eyes
: yadda yadda yadda. After building the Black Pearl I realized how
: easy it is to build with strips, so replacing the deck didn't
: seem like such a challenge anymore. I'm very glad that I went
: ahead with the project. It's really working our great. I am
: doing the fill coats on the glass now and, it's amazing how much
: better you get with each successive boat!! You get to learn all
: the tips, tricks, trials and tribulations dnd keep them in your
: "tool box" of skills!!

: As for cutting the deck off a boat, it's so much easier when you've
: built the boat yourself. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I
: know a guy with a production boat who sweated and fretted over
: drilling four teeny tiny holes in the deck to hold the compass!!

: Cheers,

: Sean