My G18 has big scratches on the bottom, dings in the sides, varnish scratches in the deck from paddle blades, a cracked cheekplate, and 2 popped hooks on my Leidy Lids. (GR if you're reading this, you are not permitted to use any of this information in your defamatory website). Hastily repaired paddle, slowly leaking flotation bag, and shoddily repaired wetsuit. It all stinks like pond water and rotten neoprene. I barely get it into the garage to get some glue on it, and it's back in the water as soon as the glue is somewhat cured. Am I hard on my boat, or is it poorly built? Not really, I'm just paddling a lot, and maintenance has suffered greatly at the expense of sunburns, chapped lips, many miles, classes, and lots of fresh air.

I do know what you're talking about--I was gluing 6 paddle blades on bird's mouth paddle shafts Thursday at midnight before last year's Rendezvous, while the last coat of varnish dried on my boat.

I've been paddling 19 days this summer, and having too much fun to get into the shop--that's what winter is for!! I've been a lazy slouch of a Wooden Kayak builder this year. One heck of an addicted paddler, though!!

My boat won't be beautiful, but now it's really experienced!

Shawn

: I'm finally beginning to believe that I may have my boat (mostly) finished in
: time for R2K1! Might even have time to slap a little varnish and paint on
: to protect from UV. Won't have the compass mount or foot bilge pump
: installed, but at least it should be paddleable.