: I was going to build a stripper canoe but then my wife bought me a
: kevlar canoe for our 20th anniversary. So I have all my strips
: cut and bead and coved. I have decided to build a Sea kayak for
: use in the Great lakes, Georgian Bay and some of the larger
: lakes in Algonquin Park. I have been canoing all my life but
: have only kayaked once in the Pacific off Vancouver island for
: the day. I quite enjoyed it and was impressed with how easy it
: was to paddle into a headwind that would have been hard work in
: a canoe.

: I hope to use the kayak for day paddles as well as weekend tripping
: and once I get some miles under my belt and learn to roll I
: might want to try surfing the kayak in lake Ontario as there can
: be a pretty good surf here with an east wind.

: I have decided to build one of the Guillermot designs both because
: I like the looks of them and as well they look easier to get
: into and out of due to the lower rear deck. Getting in and out
: of the kayak was the only part of kayaking that I did not enjoy,
: my knees did not want to bend backwards.

: My dilemma is whether to build the Guillermot or the Night Heron. I
: like the looks of the softer chines on the Guillermot and may
: want to occasionally fish out of the kayak (just bass or trout
: not large ocean fish or salmon). But the Night Heron looks like
: it might take a load slightly better for tripping and the rear
: deck looks slightly lower. Is the Night heron easier to get in
: and out of?
I built a Guillemot, the cockpit that comes in the plans is large but not too large, I liked it so much that I put it on my Outer island. I have never paddled a nighhtheron but the Guillemot seemed to carry a fair amount of gear. My only compolaint and with others herewho have built them, is that it is not a strong tracking boat and I had to put in a skeg. Once that was in it was fine.