I cut my strips a hair under 1/4" from Lowe's western red cedar planks, finished 3 sides. Actually, I visited 4 Lowes in my area one weekend to pick out their best pieces.

The weight includes the hatch covers. I don't have bulk heads, which may be a mistake. I've order float bags. I'm new to this and didn't pick up on this bulk head thing until a couple weeks ago when people started talking about them here. I'll have to do a little more work on my role so I don't have to fill the yak with water;-)

My first trip with my new yak will be to the thousand islands, upstate NY. But normally I'll be using it here in SC. The thousand islands are rock. Here, it's just red clay and sand. There will be 18 of us at the thousnad island and not a snow balls chance in heck that yak won't meet rock. I'll do some before and after pictures. However, having nearly completed this thing, I don't think there is anything they can do to her that I can't fix.

Dwight

: Dwight,

: You probably did not go too light. If you will be dealing with a lot of rocks
: you may want to add more glass, but for "average" use it should
: be fine. Joe Greenley's Redfish Silver specs out at 34 pounds and it is
: similar in size. By the time you fit it out you will be about at the same
: weight.

: It sounds like you didn't overdo it on the epoxy application. Did you use
: 1/4" or 3/16" thick strips? Do you have bulkheads and hatches?
: Deck rigging?

: Mike