[Paddlewise] touring boats

Awhile back, I had the opportunity to paddle a Necky Looksha 3 sea kayak for a few
months.  Actually, I bought it & then took it back.  It's a pretty radical design,
being 19' 6" long, double hard chines and a beam of only 19 inches.

I noted the following:  

(1) It's incredibly fast!  I could outrun highly experienced paddlers in more
traditional boats without really even trying all that hard.  On one 4 mile crossing
in fairly rough seas, I noted a speed made good of almost 5 knots, and I wasn't in
any real hurry!  This was near slack tide, so the current was not a significant
factor in my speed.  When I got my Solstice GT, at first it felt like I was paddling
a "lifeless plank" as Derek Hutchinson would say.  I'm pretty much used to the
Solstice now, and think it is a very good boat.

(2) The Looksha is **very** tippy.  (19" beam)  My paddling style is generally one
part performance kayaking and two or three parts just noodling around.  In the
Looksha, I couldn't really relax & look at eagles & seastars, or just "drift &
dream"  without being aware of staying upright.  During rest breaks, I occasionally
got out the paddle float just to be able to totally relax.  I think this is probably
because I didn't paddle it long enough to get comfortable with how far you can lean
before having to pay attention.

(3)  the long skinny profile necessitated an additional piece of equipment.  An
umbrella!  to fish stuff out of the extreme ends of the storage compartments!  No
way could I reach that tent with my hand!

Anyone else paddle this boat or one similar to it?  I miss the speed and agility but
I don't want to give up the comfort of my current boat.  'Guess I'm looking for ways
to have the best of both worlds.

Craig Olson
Bellingham, Washington

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