> erez, Nick has excellent advice. I think that you might really consider how much of your paddling will be done fully loaded,will 90% of your paddling be day trips? with one two-week trip in the year? or vice versa? My first plastic boat was a 17ft-two week-"expedition" kayak. After that a glass "expedition" boat. After that a shorter glass boat, after that a more maneuverable glass boat,after that a succession of wood boats. I found for me that I would rather paddle a smaller boat and be in better control in winds and waves than be ready for that rare expedition in that big boat. have fun