: I want to build a wood kayak within the following parameters and am looking
: for advice from those who have gone before me.

Hi Patsy.

I have built three boats in the last year. They are all from CLC.

My daughter is about 80 pounds and less than 5 feet tall. My wife is about 120 pounds and 5' 4". I built Chessie 14's for each of them. My daughter is at the low end of the scale for the 14, and my wife (and you) are near the top end of the scale. It works very well for both of them. My daughter sits a bit higher on the water, but this means that she can go a bit faster if there is no wind.

I built a Chessie 16 (which is really 15' 6") for myself. I'm 5' 10" and 150 pounds. The boat fits like a glove. I have also used the Chessie 14, and although there wasn't much freeboard left it was usable.

We use the boats as you plan to; day trips mostly, small to large lakes. Ocassional overnight trips. The lakes range from small calm ones, to large ones infested with power boats. They haven't seen salt water yet, but they will.

We have been very pleased with them.

I agree with the other posts. Don't build a boat that is too large. I met a couple of women from Quebec last month who were about my wife's size and they were paddling 17" boats. After a discussion (you will get into long discussions with perfect strangers as soon as you have a wooden boat), they decided to sell their fibreglass boats and build wooden ones over the winter.

Whatever you choose, I'm sure you will have a good time. Happy building!

coop