Hi Scott.

I would love to have all the laughing loon boats, but I only have the North Star. My other baidarka is a George Dyson adaptation from SOF and has less rocker than the North Star, as well as a longer waterline at lower and higher speeds, perhaps about the same amount of V in the keel, and a soft chine, although not as much as say a Night Heron. Buoyancy is also carried into the ends. It is as stable. The result is a Slightly faster boat that pitches less in short waves. However, although the boat is marginally longer, and has more buoyancy forward, the bow will submarine more than the bow of the North Star downwind in steep seas.

This may be because the NS is more fish form, (The PoleDancer is widest right at the cockpit.) or because of the extra rocker on the NS.

One could own every boat out there, but there would not be enough time to paddle all of them enough to get the best out of each one. In the end I tend to just use my current favourite and find out it's quirks and enjoy them. The others get used by friends or stay in the rack.

I am more of a builder though than a paddler. I am a mediocre paddler at best. A good paddler can get more out of my crappiest boat than I can get out of my best boat.

I have what I call my 'fat ugly boat' which I give to marathon kayakers, along with a cheap plastic and aluminium kiddies paddle. This enables the rest of us to keep up a little more easily.

Et