Check out the Waters Dancing Lightning 17 (S&G) and some of the others located at the link below. I have not personally paddled on open ocean yet but I know for a fact that the owner of Waters Dancing has paddled his Lightning 17 on the Pacific. The Lightning 17 is a very good balannce between good stability, both primary and secondary, and speed. It can carry up to a months worth of gear and provisions. I am currently doing a kayak trip that will take me roughly 3000 kms to start on mostly river waters and flat (Lake WInnipeg) until I get to Hudson Bay, which is pretty much ocean. I may use my Lightning 17 to paddle around Hudson Bay and then around Labrador. I've already done 940 kms through waters ranging from mountainous (class three rapids) to flat prairie (class 2 rapids). I trust my kayak to take me through a class 4 no probs (skill dependant, of course). It's tough and easily reparable. A Ches isn't much different from the Lightning from what I've heard except that the Lightning comes with a much better building manual. I've built two Lightning 17's. I am 210 lbs, 5'10", size 10 feet and fit the Lightning well.

I hope this gives you more to think about. You can get a rudder to go with it as well.

Robert N Pruden