: Thank you all for very thoughtful responses. As for the advantages of a SHORT
: kayak, cost (epoxy), weight, and possibly efficiency at lower speeds are a
: few. I think I will go ahead and build the 14ft x 20" kayak and if it
: doesn't fit I can pass it on to the wife or the twins (turned 3 today).

Happy birthday to the twins.

With a family like that, consider making this boat with a double deck. Construct it with a cockpit which is about 8 feet long, using bulkheads about 3 feet from each end. Between these bulkheads you can install a deck with two equal-sized openings which will serve as double cockpit openings for the twins. When they get to be 7 --if not sooner--they'll wnat to paddle on their own. When they aren't using the boat you can swap out the deck for a second one which has a single opening.

The spare deck is the same profile as the boat, so it just sits on top whent he boat is stored. The decks are installed with standard brass, bronze or stainless hardware: Threaded inserts are installed in a deckbeam or cleat attached to each bulkhead to hold the ends of the deck down. Along the length of the large cockpit area you make a lip which aligns the deck insert with the hull. Gluing an additional wide 1/4" strip of hardwood to the inside will do the trick. Tee nuts in this match up with flathead bolts installed from the outside. Nothing protrudes unless you want to make those fasteners do double duty and serve to hold down fittings for deck lines. A row of bright shiny brass or bronze boltheads adds some glitter to the boat.

Since you have full access to the large cockpit by simply removing either of the two decks, you have easy access for mounting footbraces for single- or double-paddler setups. You also have the opportunity to tie in some float bags or air bags to fill the space when paddling solo. This, plus air trapped in the two end chambers (put in good seals on the hatches you install there) gives you massive safety flotation.

Velcro strips placed on the floor give you the opportunity to place one or two seats where needed. Backrests can be attached to the decks.

Enjoy your building. Oh, and start planning for that faster, longer, thinner boat you'll need to build just to catch up to your twins when they get to be faster, and you have started to slow down.

By now you realize this is an addiction, and a lot of fun.

PGJ