: How about a good solid roll? :D

Leave it to you to state the obvious. I did go out and try to roll in the VJ a couple of years ago: no luck. I got 3/4 of the way around but just couldn't get the rest of the way. The problem with the VJ is that she is too loose, not tight fitting. That and one hip brace is broken. I discovered the broken hip brace the day after my attempts at rolling. I did become unusually comfortable at hanging upside down in the water: in fact, I kind of enjoyed it. No panic at all. Now that I have the S&G Night Heron built (but hatchless so far), I will take it to the lake and see how well I can roll it. The VJ is a very stable kayak, so stable that I think that is a part of the reason that it is tough to easily roll. The Night Heron is stable, too, but it's narrowness seems to make it easier to roll. There is almost 6"'s difference in beam width between the two kayaks. I got the NH set up to fit me nice and snug. When I get back from Hudson Bay, I will get the NH out to the warm watered Sylvan Lake (Alberta) and practice. My bet is that I can roll that one...it won't be pretty but I am sure I can pull it off. I strongly suspect that once I get the rolling technique ingrained in my head, then I might be able to try it with the VJ. I am not so sure anyone could roll a stable kayak packed with 150-lbs of gear and Guinness very easily.

Robert N Pruden