My Wife and I have been paddling these boats for a few months now and we are in love. I've taken a few tours with my big brother as well. These boats are extremely well suited for there intended purpose; High desert and alpine lakes and alkaline seas in fair to moderate conditions. They have the stability of the big beam recreational (maybe inflatable) kayak with similar tracking and bottom angles to a fifteen foot, hard chine, SOF touring kayak. We easily pass all of the rotomolded consumer boats that are commonly deployed here (12 foot minus and inflatables) and only spent $300 dollars per boat.

The necessity for the boats' design arose out of need to provide a cheap, beginner inland craft that could carry all of my adventure and lake camping crap and my wife's full figure.

The coaming opening is huge at twenty-four inches; you can easily sit sideways in the boat, shove off and tuck your legs in whenever you like if ever. The boats will displace about 350 lb. with around a half-inch of freeboard. In good weather with no spray skirt, fishing gear, cameras, whatever is easily accessed from the ample storage space.

The massive oak (red boat) and redwood (Blue Dragonfly) floor boards could accommodate whatever kind of seat you want; I've got a dual density foam seat pad made from back-packing sleeping pads of various grades. Custom float bags were fabricated as well.

I have found that the boats are ideal for up to fifteen mile a day paddles for three or four days on end with a VERY high level of comfort; my bro. and I crossed Utah Lake in full moon light; a cool 12 mile trip for a couple of high desert dudes in homemade redwood stick boats... pretty sweet.

Here is an album link to some photos of the boats on various outings...

https://picasaweb.google.com/108206584620469731398/KayakRandom?authuser=0&feat=directlink