The Aleut boats are beautiful and there is a certain something about paddling them. However, from a purely practical point of view I would strongly suggest you consider Rob's designs. I don't consider the North Star or Shooting Star to be an evolution of the original boats. Instead, I believe they are beautiful boats in their own right, inspired by the Aleut designs. The bonus is that Rob has designed out the shortcomings and built in a lot of features that make them ideal boats for serious touring. You have the look of an Aleut boat, the beauty of wood strip construction and the functionality of a modern boat. Whatever you decide, have fun.