Jeff, at today's prices...one can throw away $1k as easily as $1/2k. Usually depends on the design(shape) of the hull for handling chop/wind. I stay with canoes so I'm about as useful as a streetpeddler. Give a check with the folks in the Community /Message Boards on http://www.paddling.net. Lots of history on that site so think up some searches and you should get some pretty good ideas...
$.01,
canoeboy_Steve
$.01,
canoeboy_Steve