: Okay, I know that you can't compare apples to oranges, but given that IN
: GENERAL, boats that are narrower in relation to their length are less
: stable than those which are wider in relation to their length, do you
: think a narrow boat is reasonable for a beginner to grow into, or will it
: more likely be endlessly frustrating?

Speaking from my own experience, I've just finished my second season of paddling. At the beginning of spring 2001, I was uncomfortable in a double Klepper (the kayak equivalent of the Queen Mary). Now, at the end of 2002, I'm most comfortable in my 17.6 Cape Ann Storm (22" beam) and QCC 700XL (18ft, with a 21" beam), so you can build a "narrow" boat and be perfectly comfortable in it in short order. It takes some practice and the ability to RELAX on the water. Narrow doesn't necessarily mean unstable. I have not flipped either boat and I've had the Storm in whitecaps and Florida breakers. For day-paddling, you might look at the Caspian Sea, by John Winter, one of the easier stripper projects, Nick's Great Auk, Vaclav's Cirrus.

Jim