: I prefaced my comment with "as a general rule" because I know
: somebody would pop up and say there is a boat that can outfox the laws of
: hydrodynamics. I don't know and from the other comments made here no one
: else seems to know if such a boat exists, either.
: From my very limited experience there is no world-beater short sea kayak.
: When the testers at Canoe & Kayak do their boat tests the longer boat
: always, always, alway shows it's heels to, and has more glide than the
: shorter ones.
: The Wood Duck is a new hull and seems to be getting a solid reception. I
: interpret that to mean it fits the paddling requirements of a lot of
: people not that it has conquered the limitations of waterline length and
: wetted area.

Have to also remember that while all boats are not created equal the same thing applies to paddlers. I may go out every time (I do) and try to get the maximum performance from a yak, but many many new(er) paddlers are very happy at a much more relaxed pace. Also not all paddlers are paddling for the same purpose, they may be just out relaxing after a rough week or taking pictures, fishing etc. etc. Lots of reasons to paddle, not all need long skinny boats. There is no one perfect design for all.

Even tough the darned thing wouldn't go in a straight line (without it's rudder) I just loved my Prion Yukon for years and years, sometimes wish I'd not sold it.

Bill H.