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Re: S&G: How will you use it?
By:Mark N
Date: 10/26/2016, 7:15 am
In Response To: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a kit. (Nyah)

What is missing in this thread is any discussion regarding how and where you want to paddle this boat. Will you paddle in open waters or little streams? Day paddles or week long expeditions? Surf? Once you know how you will use the boat, you can choose a boat that is designed for those conditions.

Of the three boats that you listed, they each have somewhat different strengths. The SW14 would be a great little play boat, but it would be small for a lot of camping gear. The CH16 would be best for a long expedition but it is the heaviest and most affected by winds. The 16LT fits in between but with the lower volume bow it is not as good in waves as the 16. As others have said, there are other designs out there depending oh your usage.

The SW14H and 16LT have the same beam, cockpit size and nearly the same knee height, so I suspect that your lack of comfort in the SW had more to do with how that individual boat was outfitted than the design itself. Part of the fun of building a boat is making it perfect for you!

A CLC kit is a great way to go for a first build. The Shearwater would be a bit easier to build. It is a newer design, the manual is significantly better and all the stitch holes are predrilled which makes it easier to line everything up.

Here are my three boats, each designed for a particular set of conditions and usage. The Petrel Play on the left is my play/surf boat. I use the Ch17LT (middle) for longer trips or if I am with a bunch of fast paddlers. The Wahoo is my race/workout boat.

Messages In This Thread

S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a kit.
Nyah -- 10/25/2016, 1:26 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/25/2016, 2:50 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 10/25/2016, 3:21 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/25/2016, 3:34 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki *PIC*
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 10/25/2016, 5:11 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Alex Ferguson -- 10/25/2016, 9:34 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/25/2016, 11:16 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Alex Ferguson -- 10/26/2016, 12:13 am
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/25/2016, 11:25 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Alex Ferguson -- 10/26/2016, 12:27 am
Re: S&G: In defense of complexity... *PIC*
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 10/26/2016, 9:41 am
Re: S&G: In defense of complexity...
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/26/2016, 12:19 pm
Frej SG: Cockpit Sizes
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 10/26/2016, 12:33 pm
Re: Frej SG: Cockpit Sizes
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/26/2016, 12:42 pm
Re: Frej SG: Cockpit Sizes *PIC*
Dan Caouette (CSCWC) -- 10/26/2016, 2:05 pm
Re: Frej SG: Cockpit Sizes
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/26/2016, 2:23 pm
Re: S&G: In defense of complexity...
Bill Hamm -- 10/27/2016, 12:57 am
Re: S&G: In defense of complexity...
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 1:03 am
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Etienne Muller -- 10/25/2016, 4:50 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Nyah -- 10/25/2016, 5:43 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/25/2016, 6:35 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Etienne Muller -- 10/26/2016, 3:51 am
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Bill Hamm -- 10/27/2016, 1:00 am
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki *PIC*
Etienne Muller -- 10/26/2016, 5:31 am
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/26/2016, 12:03 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Etienne Muller -- 10/27/2016, 4:37 am
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki *PIC*
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 11:55 am
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Etienne Muller -- 10/27/2016, 2:29 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 3:05 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 4:14 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Allan -- 10/27/2016, 5:36 am
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Allan -- 10/27/2016, 5:45 am
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 12:14 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Nyah -- 10/27/2016, 12:56 am
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Bill Hamm -- 10/27/2016, 1:03 am
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 1:05 am
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Etienne Muller -- 10/27/2016, 4:49 am
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Alex Ferguson -- 10/27/2016, 3:59 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 4:27 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 4:30 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Alex Ferguson -- 10/27/2016, 4:48 pm
Re: S&G: Kayaking fan wants to build S&G from a ki
Etienne Muller -- 10/27/2016, 5:01 am
Re: S&G: How will you use it?
Mark N -- 10/26/2016, 7:15 am
Re: S&G: How will you use it?
John Messinger -- 10/26/2016, 8:18 am
Re: S&G: How will you use it?
Thomas Duncan -- 10/26/2016, 10:23 am