: After doing the same drill, there is now a small fixed skeg on my G17, and
: you may get some idea of the handling changes in comparison with Cid's G18
: without. If you're interested, give me a shout on email and we can get
: together for a demo.

There's probably a noticeable difference between the stock G17 and a G'L'. If Dale waits until R2K1, he can try your G17 with a keelson, a stock G17, a G'L', and my G18. I know I'm excited to try 'em all!!

I'll still encourage Dale to be patient....I've gotten very used to my G18, and actually dislike boats that track stiffer. I tried the LL Panache last night for the first time, and it tracks like it's on rails. It does nice leaned turns, but my paddling has gotten balanced enough I don't desire stiff tracking anymore. The Panache owner was commenting that my Guillemot felt like his whitewater boat to him! (He also owns the stiff-tracking Ches 17). I don't think a lot of people expect a sea kayak to track loosely, but once you get used to them, there's no feeling like it.

Shawn

Shawn