Canoe/kayak

[ALAN GEDDES]

Can anyone tell me the best and smallest canoe or kayak for smooth water use for one person ? Would prefer to build my own. Alan

[Steve Frederick]

Wee Lassie!!!!! Absolutely!!!!!
It's a Mac McCarthy design, 12' long, 26" beam, should weigh about 30 pounds. Great for a moderate weight single paddler, using a double paddle, like a kayak. A larger paddler would use the Wee Lassie II, 13' 6" with a 27"beam, weighing about 35 pounds.
You can get Mac's book, Featherlight Boat Building, and build from plans in the book, or, my friend ,Michael Vermouth, sells kits for these,and many other strip-built boats.
I'm building the Wee LassieII for Phyllis this winter. I'll do it from the book with supplies from Michael.

[Guest]

Ditto on the Wee Lassie, it also looks like an easy first time builder project. Check out a few different designs. you might choose to build a kayak instead. (A bit more work building than a canoe)
Canoecraft by Ted Moores is another good book to have too.
Enjoy your project!