: Bill,
: One factor there - the Osprey has a plumb stern and steep cutwater - so it
: has a waterline as long as most 17' boats, and longer than many. So it can
: top out faster than quite a few.

exactly,,it's attributes are least wetted area for a given load carrying capacity a longer waterline than most 17' kayaks with overhang or long slender ends,which would give them a much lower prismatic coefficient and less efficiency. With the straight keel it makes for a straight paddling and fairly uninspiring handling,,,but if the goal was minimal horsepower output for cruising speeds and carrying a load it's a good choice. I don't think that many people really paddle much faster than 4mph most of the time and I bet you could paddle the GE/Osprey standard with less effort than a Tempest 170 at 4mph. If you have to paddle faster than that for long stretches then you're looking at different boats all together.