You
should chose a boat design based on many criteria:
Gauge
your skills and experience. Building a Geodesic Airolite
Boat requires only basic carpentry skills - so don't sell yourself
short and assume that you can't do a suitable job. In fact that
is the most common expression from first time builders - they can't
believe they built such a beautiful boat. That being said, it is
still advisable for beginners to chose a design that is somewhat
simple and won't take too long to complete. In general it is a little
easier to build a canoe than a dinghy due to the simplified stern
and possible reduction in the number of pieces. The estimated build
time is also a fair gauge.
Ask
yourself "what is my intended use?" Is this boat
primarily for you, or do need room for another person? What is your
boating style? Fast solo paddling? Leisurely rowing? Would you prefer
to sail than paddle or row? Do intend to carry your boat to remote
places? Are you going to fish from it and carry other gear? Look
for a boat that supports your primary needs.
Put another way - look to build the boat that you would
use most rather than building a boat with capabilities
and capacity that you would rarely need. Like countless others you
can easily build an additional boat for another person or entirely
different use at a later time. It's a little like owning a family
car and a two-seater sports car, only the "solo sports-car-boat"
is not more costly and probably easier to build. One last note about
your intended use - many of our boats are hybrids that can readily
serve two purposes. You can easily chose a row boat that can also
be sailed.
How
much experience do you have in the type of boat you're considering?
If you're a beginner or a little unsure chose a boat with some width
or extra capacity for stability. A heavier boat is usually easier
to get in and out of while a lighter boat can scoot out from under
your foot if you're not careful. A hull that is more flat than rounded
will feel more stable when loading and unloading. A boat that is
not at or over it's recommended capacity will have more freeboard
to absorb a clumsy entrance.
Putting
it all together: Chosing a boat can be a very personal
decision. The selection process varies greatly from person to person,
by locale and experience. Try to chose your boat by identifying
your key requirements, then refine your choice by consider differences
among similar models. The comparison chart
helps contrast major features and helps classify the function of
each boat. You may find that our customer
comments are helpful in describing the spirit of the boat while
the many pictures associated with the boats and comments demonstrate
how they actually use their boats. Most people are delighted with
their choice and final results - both in function and appearance. |