It floats!
I built a "Red Green Solution" carrier for my car, (temporary, unless it works), and it works very well indeed! Then on friday night I headed down to my 9:30PM kayaking class for the big launch. It was really interesting to get in it from the high pool deck, (about 8" above the top of the kayak), but with a little help from my friends, I was finally settled in with the Schade-style footbrace adjusted and sprayskirt firmly attached. I sure wasn't gonna do the penguin-style launch we do with the plastic boats!!
Ya know what? It didn't sink, or just roll over or anything! kewl!

Overall first impressions:

-quite stable
A few progressively more agressive hip wiggles assured me that the beast wasn't tippy in the least, and a couple of practice hip snaps hanging on the pool gutter made me think that if I ever learn to roll, the GB will come around just fine....I hope

-quite stable,
I soon found that one good stroke was sufficient to propel me the length of this Olympic-sized pool, which made my next observation immediately apparent...it doesn't want to stop! The glide is forever.

-quite stable!!
I'm gonna call this thing the QEII! Compared to the WW kayaks I have used up until now, this thing is like a train. I'm used to one decent sweep and you're around a 180..HAH! not with this boat! I know, I know, it's a matter of training and experience, but you have to understand that the staightest tracking kayak I've ever paddled is a Dagger Animas. I can just manage a 180 within a little less than a pool width at this point. I'm sure I'll improve.

I need to pad it up a fair bit, because contrary to my concerns while building, there is more than enough room in there for me. It's even a little sloppy..comfy though. Oh yes, the weight? My bathroom scale says 38# w/ 3" minicell bulkheads, carved seat and foot brace. Pretty good for a 16' 10" boat! I know Rob, it's supposed to be 16' 6"...I guess I should have carved a little more material off at the stem forms. *grin*
Thanks to Rob Macks for a really nice design and great instructions. I think the GB will be just right for the kind of kayaking I want to do.
Anyway, I can't wait for the warmer weather, when I can take it out on some real water....and maybe by then I'll be able to roll!!!
James