I've built a fifteen foot version of ATHELAS for a man in Oregon who wanted a lighter boat. He named her HOJA ("leaf" in Spanish) because she feels so light in the water.

ATHEY has all the same overall dimensions except length. Her plank layout comes out very slightly different, and she needs 5 rather than 3 frames. However, the three middle planks are 4 vice 6 mm plywood. These two changes subtract about 13 pounds, making car-topping easier (and damaging a plank easier). You could build her all of 6 mm sides and lose half the weight gain.

Setting her up for only one rower, vice two will shed another 4 pounds, She weighed only 65 pounds!

With one rower, ATHEY draws about 3-1/2 inches, instead of 3-1/4, and obviously, has slightly less ultimate load carrying capacity. But either boat will carry two or three adults safely. Either boat is a little tippy with only one person aboard, standing up, but stable enough when seated for open water. ATHEY draws 6" with 3 aboard, and has 6" freeboard.

There is a downside; subracting two feet starts increasing wavemaking and overall resistance (drag) above 5 mph (4.3 knots) based on Matt Brose' resistance calculation spreadsheet (www.marinerkayaks.com), or other means of calculation.

Plans are $75. Custom Built, about $2000.