Ultralight precision precut plywood kayak and canoe kits. Est. 1955.

Dear Waters Dancing

I doubt the English language has a word to describe the feeling one experiences when one takes to the water with a boat like the

Solace 16XL for the first time.

Don’s idea is transformed into a design, a design into a precision-engineered kit and by a labor of love, through his thoughtfulness never of frustration becomes reality when the boat touches the water for the first time. For weeks you dream of the time when the wooden box you are building will enter the element it is designed for and then the moment of truth has come…. She floats.

You knew that she would float but how does it feel to be in the water. Stable, very stable and she is fast. This graceful construction built by your own hands gives you the pleasure to realize that everything you were promised by its designer is becoming reality.

I would state categorically that this boat does not only have the most elegant looks but is incomparable to any stitch and glue design by other kayak designers. I would call it a Mercedes-Ferrari combination. Mercedes in care to detail and Ferrari in speed.

The care you have taken to provide for every material and hardware needed is exceptional. My double kayak that I built earlier was harder to build and the material by far were less impressive and so were the instructions.

Dear Don, you have achieved what most will never be able to, kayak and paddler become one unit in the water. Both my son, who built the same model, and I are looking forward to take the Bowron Lake circuit in August.

Thank you both for the design, the pleasure it has given me to follow the careful instructions, the patience to answer silly questions and most of all for the beauty: the incomparable Solace 16XL.

Cheers

Helmut Becker

Dear Don and Jeff.
Thank you for your reply.
I mail the pictures now since I just returned from a beautiful trip to the Bowron Lakes. Both my son's and my boat performed superb. Your seat is comfortable and throughout the trip we felt absolutely at home in the boat. Speaking of admirers.We had to take the boat down from the car at the first campsite before the trip to show the features to a couple from Washington State who are familiar with Pygmy boats and I sold them on the Solace.We made everybody who inquired remember your website'Watersdancing"
not dancing waters.
The boat is in my opinion the best design on the market.It is simply superb.The first picture is that of my proud son who finished it on time for the lakes and is equally enthused about his boat and did a beautiful job .

Dear Don.
Here is another picture of the boat.
Choose if you want to include this one. It is finished for the trip to the lakes. You are The best designer of stitch and glue kayaks by far. Cheers,
Helmut

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