Good to hear my thoughts about the design are sound.

Rolling *grin*. Somewhere in my research, I ran across Cape Falcon's "Using Your Greenland Kayak" page ( http://www.capefalconkayak.com/usingyourgreenlandkayak.html ). I like how he puts the "Capsize Recovery" section right after the "How to Get into the Kayak" section. From what I've heard, learning how to roll is a good idea no matter what kayak I've got, so it'll be one of the first things I practice. We've got a few lakes in the area (and around my mom's place) that have fairly shallow grades for a good distance. Plenty of room to practice. Getting professional instruction is on my list, too.

I can't see myself paddling alone right away... the wife's a fairly experienced canoer, and I doubt she'll let me get away from the house alone. Just having someone else around is a good idea, anyway. Even in model aircraft flying... freak stuff happens every now and then, and it's hard to drive yourself to the hospital while you're trying not to bleed out *grin*.

Speaking of the used kayaks... the wife and mother are both considering picking up a kayak around the same time I ought to be finished with mine. They aren't keen on a SOF, and would rather pick up a plastic one. Worst case scenario, I borrow one of their's.

: I have a Sea Tour 15, and it is indeed a stable kayak, once you get
: in it. I have seen people who are used to bigger boats with a
: flatter bottom find entering it tricky, so it may feel a bit
: tippy until you get in and get settled. We're the same size so
: you should be OK there. Given the dimensions of these boats are
: more like commercial sea kayaks than traditional Greenland
: boats, you don't need a traditional paddling instructor/club to
: help you out unless you intend to use a Greenland paddle.
: Regular sea kayak lessons are fine.

: These boats, because they lack bulkheads, do not lend themselves to
: re-entering the boat if you capsize and can't roll. Even with
: float bags mine submerges completely if I try to use a paddle
: float to get back in. Rescues with partners work fine, but solo
: ones are not easy at all. I paddle alone pretty often, and if I
: was not extremely confident in my rolling I would not keep this
: boat. Solo paddling + No roll = no SOF boat, in my opinion.

: Unless you are going to be paddling exclusively with other more
: experienced paddlers, I would buy a used plastic sea kayak for
: your first season while you build the SOF, just to get your feet
: wet. It will make the learning curve much easier and you can
: sell it for what you bought it for when you're done (I see used
: Prijons for ~$500 all the time)