: Hey Mike,

: I've seen the Black Pearl on local waters and it is sweet but I do not think
: it is the boat for her. She has been paddling less than six months and I
: think she needs a little more stability. I don't think I can get into the
: BP and you know I will want to try whatever we build for her.

There's no faster way to get better than to have a boat that's a bit tippy... The braces and rolls become a regular part of paddling instead of theoretical skills. Besides- kayaks are like bikes. They're pretty stable while you're moving, and get tippy when you stop. Just don't stop! (Trust me- my first kayak was 18 3/4" wide... I'm a bit overly ambitious by nature...)

: What I'd really like for her is a 16' Night Heron without the rocker of the
: Petrel. I know her and she will have a snit if she is fighting to keep her
: straight.

Although I have not seen it, I have heard of someone who reduced a NH 10% and was told by a very reliable source who'd paddled it that it was an awesome boat. You'd also be reducing the width 10% as well. Keep in mind that there are 100+ year old kayaks from Greenland in museum collections that have skegs or attachment points for them. If you put a big skeg on a Petryl it'd track straight...

If you want to try another S&G, I really like the Arctic Hawk, and know of at least one very accomplished paddler who has one. The Disko Bay looks nice, though. So many boats. So little time.

m

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