The Cape Falcon plans are far more detailed so there is a lot less figuring out stuff by yourself, relative to getting written plans. It's definitely a much more efficient process and there is probably a lot less variance in the result. I winged it on my Aleutian kayak a lot with mixed results (I gave it a lot of rocker and some other whitewater-inspired geometry). Of the kayaks, I prefer the Aleutian skin on frame although it was quite painful before I got the seat dialed in, and sometimes I can't roll it very well (I'm an expert whitewater boater and have a very solid roll), and its top speed is low. But it is very light, maneuverable, quiet (waves hitting it don't make much sound) and the peaked deck sheds water so it doesn't spray your face when you are punching through waves in the surf. The F1 is probably best of both worlds.
The Cape Falcon canoe that I built deviates a bit from the design pattern because I wanted a wide and flat bottom with harder edges, similar to a lot of modern Royalex tandem canoes. It's a 16' tandem I think, and even though it is pretty wide, it is still less stable than most canoes. However it is fast and extremely maneuverable in Class III.
Skin on frame is also awesome because when you are loading or unloading a 17' boat in a crowded beach parking lot and smack the bow into the car next to yours, it doesn't do any damage to either car or boat, or so I hear.
Stitch and glue is straightforward but the woodworking part goes fast and then it's just a ton of fiberglass work, i.e. cycles of epoxy and sanding, which is not that enjoyable for its own sake. On the other hand, one of the great parts of skin on frame construction is that other than a short amount of time ripping the ribs on a table saw, the rest is basically quiet and without harsh chemicals, so you don't need earmuffs or a respirator and can listen to music and have a snack/drink.
Stitch and glue will last forever if you protect it from UV, however skin on frame will most likely need to be reskinned in 5-10 years or so.
The Cape Falcon canoe that I built deviates a bit from the design pattern because I wanted a wide and flat bottom with harder edges, similar to a lot of modern Royalex tandem canoes. It's a 16' tandem I think, and even though it is pretty wide, it is still less stable than most canoes. However it is fast and extremely maneuverable in Class III.
Skin on frame is also awesome because when you are loading or unloading a 17' boat in a crowded beach parking lot and smack the bow into the car next to yours, it doesn't do any damage to either car or boat, or so I hear.
Stitch and glue is straightforward but the woodworking part goes fast and then it's just a ton of fiberglass work, i.e. cycles of epoxy and sanding, which is not that enjoyable for its own sake. On the other hand, one of the great parts of skin on frame construction is that other than a short amount of time ripping the ribs on a table saw, the rest is basically quiet and without harsh chemicals, so you don't need earmuffs or a respirator and can listen to music and have a snack/drink.
Stitch and glue will last forever if you protect it from UV, however skin on frame will most likely need to be reskinned in 5-10 years or so.