: Thanks very much for the replies.

: LeeG - I wasn't thinking that the Sports Tandem is a tub. I see that as being
: great for when we got a bit of experience together but am worried that it
: may be a little tippy first off. I was thinking along the lines of the CLC
: Chesapeake double when I referred to tubs.

: I'm about 165 pounds and my wife is around 130.

Oh,,yeah, the standard CLC tandem is a supertanker. It's huge for the same reason the standard Chesapeakes are huge,,designed by numbers.

Your weights would be great for the ST. It has a fair amount of rocker and is actually pretty maneuverable once leaned. The problem though is that long tandems that are leaned assume a degree of control on the lean. They aren't just big singles where two people act as one. That's why it's easier to let the rudder contribute to tracking/turning for tandems than design a hull that relies on leaning. Also the consequences of a tandem dumping it are worse than a single so for a given set of skills it makes more sense for a double to be more stable for stinky conditions since two people are less likely to brace at the same time with sufficient effort compared to a single. If two people aren't working together the loads on a 21' tandem coming back to ONE paddlers shoulders are a lot more than a single when control in wind/waves is needed.

I really can't say if it's stability is an issue or not. It's too tippy for two 200lb paddlers who are unfamiliar with bracing/rolling if they took it down 2' waves. If your wife is antsy with tippy boats I don't think she'll feel more comfortable as her weight will be a small part of the control compared to yours. If you're paddling in