Good stuff fellas. Lots of this stuff I'm really familiar with having done several week long cat trips and even more kayak trips. The info is good nonetheles. I'd love to get some more specific boat recommendations though. I have built a couple outrigger canoes--Gary Dierking's Ulua and Tamanu. They might be better in some respects for righting. In the '09 Texas 200 trip I used two Tamanu hulls melded with my hobie 18 gear, mast, beams, tramp, etc. It's a big cat though... hence my interest in a solo boat.

Thanks for the Taipan suggestion BTW.

Dan