: Check out these Epic vids from youtube comparing the epic hull with
: a conventional kayak with upswept bow.

: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWXXTAnNRoo
: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9svtYPVmbo8

: I'm interested in knowing the opinions of others on the board that
: have more rough sea experience than I.

Are both kayaks the same overall length? If they are, the waterlines are markedly different, the shorter more likely to hobbyhorse. I think it also has something to do with the fullness of the hull toward the ends, with fuller ends the stern doesn't sink as much, letting the bow stay lower and giving a flatter ride.

Any time I've been out in my baidarka, the bows aren't submerged to the end on flat water, the waterline appears to start at about the back of the "jaws", maybe a foot back.
And any time I've come over a crest, it does "slam" down but on an edge. That slices back into the water rather than splashes and the hull shape tends to throw the splash outward more than upward. Any solid water falls off the peaked deck.
My greenland kayak tends to slice into the wave initially, then rise a bit but by then the fuller part of the hull is getting full support from the wave and the stern is 'losing' bouyancy (being lifted higher in the water) and the bows don't actually slam down quite as dramatically as would be thought and it isn't as hard as thought. The upsweep seems to act like a 'damper' or progressive spring in auto suspension, a more gradual resistence.

Though I wonder about the idea of a "dry ride" and kayaks. We're sitting in tiny little craft with our butts below the water line (mostly) in a very wet environment :D we're bound to get wet. Well, on the outside of any waterproof gear we wear.
As long as solid water doesn't regularly hit you, tis alright.
If I want to stay dry, I'd stay indoors. :D

Mike Savage
South West Cork