It took me well over a year of looking at kayak kit companies and personal building sites - many of your blogs, sites, photo galleries - before I decided that maybe I could do this. Then around Christmas of last year, I announced to my extended family that I was going to build a kayak. It took a couple of months, but the laughter finally stopped. You see, I'm your classic computer guy - I literally have to think out, "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey".

BUT- in January of this year, I started a Tom Yost Sea Flea kayak for my daughter. I took everything one step at a time. Every task took me way longer than you could possibly imagine. Summer got away from me, lots of life got in the way. But, I can finally say that I'm finished with the build for my daughter's kayak:

http://tinyurl.com/PaigePinkSeaFlea

We'll spend the colder months with my wife's fancy scrapbook cutter machine cutting out vinyl for decorations. (I told my daughter to limit it to 5 or 6 - she made a list of over 40 things she wants to cut out & glue onto the kayak.)

Anyway, here are some pictures of us weighing it and her in it (pre-deck rigging):

http://tinyurl.com/PaigeKayakWeighing

And now, the Grammy-style thank yous...

I want to thank Tom first and foremost. It's his design and his site's instructions that I followed along the way. Additionally, thanks to the Nick for hosting this site and especially all of you for your participation on it. I've asked a few questions this past year and I check this site about daily.

It's been fun. And yes- I already have the frames cutout for a Sea Tour 17R for me.

-Doug