Kurt,
HAve tried both out at rendevous. Very different boats. NH is a very dry boat. I.e waves don't march up the deck and slap you in the face. It has a higher profile. The trade off of drier deck is larger wind profile. Not saying this boat has a wind problem. Its just a different boat and boats are a set of trade offs sitting in the water. OI has much lower profile and many who build it have trimmed it even farther. If I was just starting out firs boat I'd start out with the NH. OI I think is a much livlier boat. On the other hand if your looking for a boat that does as much upside down as it does right side up. The OI is a great in the rocks/boomer field boat. If I was looking for a bird watching platform I'd chose the much greater initial and secondary stability of the NH. I found both tracked well in stiff wind. You'll probobly get more cargo capcity out of a NH. A cut down OI deck with the thin beam is going to make the OI the easier roll, but will also be easier to keep going if your new to it. In the end either boat rolls easy. The criteria for a good roll has less to do with the boat and everything to do with the padlder.

In the end my suggestion is looka t how your going to use the boat then figure out which set of trade offs supports it best. After the analysis listen to your heart and build the boat that really says gotta build it. Then become expert in paddling that boat.

BOth ar cool rides just in very different ways. best of al lget to MATB in June and try em both out.

!RUSS