: I'd be pleased to hear comments about the fit and paddling characteristics of
: the Night Heron ... especially if you're a big guy. I'm 6'2" ... 225#
: ... size 10-1/2 shoes and I can still slip into a 16 inch cockpit. I've
: narrowed down my choices to the Night Heron or Outer Island ... well ...
: at least before I change my mind again! My passion is performing sculling
: high braces (side sculling) ...

I've paddled both boats and will be starting an Outer Island soon (hopefully). If you like sculling, you can't beat the OI. The boat is designed for Greenland paddling techniques. You should have no trouble fitting into one. It's quite stable for a narrow boat, but rolls effortlessly. It also strikes a nice balance between tracking and maneuverability.

The Night Heron should certainly handle your weight and the cockpit is pretty roomy. The handling is very different from the OI. It's the most maneuverable 18' boat I've ever been in. Actually, it's more maneuverable than my 15' plastic boat. I believe that Nick describes it as "playful" and I'd agree. I suspect that it would be a blast in surf.

I really liked both the OI and the NH. However, for open water paddling, I felt the OI was a better bet.