: There were studies of rowing shells indicating that for the same hull
: dimensions there is little difference in speed between hard and soft
: chines (S&G vs stripper)- forgot the author but I think it is somewhere on
: the Wooden Boat site.
: One might guess that there may be slight difference in leaned turning and
: stability to the advantage of S&G hard chines.
: Am I missing anything here ??

Not likely. When you get out of one and go straight into the other and the degree of difference is that noticeable, then it is real, at least to me. I had been looking forward to the Night Heron S&G and wanted the puzzle effect but not after a side by side comparison. That's just me and what I experienced, I am sure others would go the opposite way.

It's not like I am some great kayak critic or experienced with every boat, I just know what I like and what I don't like.