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.