I can not imagine ocean or lake conditions so rough that I would feel uncomfortable in a well designed sea kayak. I do like using a white water boat on the ocean, but mainly for playing. The problem with a white water kayak (or any kayak of similar length) has nothing to do with paddling straight, that you can learn, but you will be paddling close to hull speed (HS=1.73*Sqrt(Water Line Length)). For a 10 ft boat this is at best 5.47 mph and probably much less in reality. As you get closer to the hull speed the drag increased dramatically. I am not paddling very hard when my 11 foot Perception Dancer bogs down due to the waves I am creating. My relaxed cruising speed in a sea kayak is faster than I (or anyone) can paddle my Dancer.

You can expect a comfortable cruising pace in a sea kayak of between 4 and 5 mph. As an example my 17' Guillemot design has a water line length of about 14.75 ft for a hull speed of about 6.5 mph. This is well above my expected cruising speed. This permits me to paddle at an efficient speed for my boat.

This is not to mention any inefficiency due to the snake-wake typical of a short boat.

> I think your last line says it all

> "however, I don't think I'd want one (a sea kayak) in really
> rough water."

> Perhaps I used the modifier whitewater incorrectly but those
> who have used my 17' boats indicate that they handle like whitewater
> boats.

> I always take the smallest boat that will get me and my gear
> where I am going but ...