but wouldn't you like a little better ability to steer through waves? I had a great time with my Ch16 in two sets of breakers off of Ocrecoke,,the flat bottom really allows the wave to pick the stern up and SCOOT you down things,,,but the flip side is the bow gets stuck fairly quickly with a quick transition to a broach as the minimal rocker in the middle 6' of the hull and pronounced chines far to the ends seems to give the wave more abrupt shift on the cg than a hull with more rocker or flared sides. That same characteristic taken to the extremes with the Northbay make it especially difficult in waves/chop. When I paddled the Merganser or my own 18'x21" s&g that had more flare I found that the transition was a LOT smoother to a broach which can make those carving turns one hears about easier for bracing into the wave. It also makes the ability to turn up before the break and back towards the beach beneficial. Of course these aren't surf boats and one is going to get knocked around in any rough water.