> Interestingly, I had a similar conversation three days ago at the Newfound
> Woodworkd Rendezvous. A canoeist was looking for a sea kayak to take on
> down river trips. He was test paddling a Guillemot. The consensus we
> reached standing on the beach was that the Guillemot was as manueverable
> as anything around and could probably handle Class II water if you were
> just interested in passing through. I wouldn't hesitate to take a
> Guillemot our in ocean surf, but you can surf all day and never hit a
> rock. On a river rocks are inevitable and there is less room to maneuver
> than in the ocean.

> I'd have to say that if you know you're going to hit rocks a plastic boat
> is the answer and if you know you'll be in Class III water a sea kayak is
> probably not the answer. The length of a sea kayak can be a real liability
> in rough water; the paddler exerts controlling forces from the center of a
> 17 ft. boat, but the water can act on the ends of the boat, gaining great
> leverage. A canoe, with paddlers placed at either end, makes more sense as
> river conditions get more severe. The other alternative is a white water
> kayak, which is short enough to negate the water's leverage advantage.

What about building the Guillemot as a skin kayak using ballistic nylon coated with hypalon(elastomeric paint). You could cut the center out of the forms and use ash stringers. This should give a light strong flexible kayak that could handle bashing into rocks. Just a thought.

Mike