Consider a small canoe like the Wee Lassie II that is designed to be paddled like a kayak, but has better stability and more passenger space. Glen-L marine has plans for a S&G rob roy that is a similar design if you want to stay away from strip building.

: I am near the end of a Chesapeake17 project. My next boat will be to take
: people out, occasionally a 5year old and a 9yo. Even though i have
: purchased plans for the Chesapeake Double, i thought that the Pokomoke may
: be a better option because it has an open cockpit and it is paddle-able by
: one person.