I've been an avid kayaker since I was a kid in Florida and so was my Dad. He designed
and built his own from scratch just for fun. Never liked the plastic or inflatable types
because they were hard or impossible to repair. Long term, fiberglass is the way to go
IMO. Yes, they are heavier and can be more expensive but worth it.
Currently have a single (8') and double (14') which we now use on lakes occasionally.
These are the old types where you sit inside.