Hi Ken,

In my opinion I don't think you would see alot of difference with respect to speed between the Silver and either the OI or the Night Heron. I have built 7 kayaks now and can't say I see much difference in speed between any of them with the exception of the Derijp and an SOF which are much narrower. maybe if I had special equipment checking me I could tell but your only talking @ an inch narrower and maybe a foot longer between them and the Silver. I can tell you that the OI is a very strong tracking boat and for me is one of my favorites. A good all around boat I'm 5-8 and currently 165lbs. The Derijp has become my favorite but at 18' 9'' and a 16-3/4" beam with only 7" deck to hull at the coaming most paddlers don't fit. It's the fastest boat I have paddled. It's not a strong tracker due to more rocker but very managable. My suggestion would be to paddle them if you can find them locally. Another option is to build an SOF custom built to a size you want and if you like the outcome build it strip built. That's what I did for the Derijp. It's a 1600's vintage West Greenland hunting Kayak surveyed by Harvey Golden. I paddled several replicas of the SOF that others had built. I liked it, lofted it and built it.

Kent