Until a few months ago I had a Current Designs Solstice GTS and a Mariner Express. Intending to buy a Mariner II, I sold the Express only to have Mariner go out of business, so I am left only with my favorite boat, the GTS. However, as an ecumenical paddler I enjoy having a ruddered boat as well as a non, with no real preference either way, choosing one or the other as the mood strikes. In the last week I tried the following boats: P&H Quest, Valley Aquanaut, Chatham 18, Nigel Foster Legend. One day I paddled the first three on protected water with winds to 15 kts and lots of holiday boat wakes. I found the Quest completely unsatisfactory, too tippy for me with no turn carving response when leaned. Also, was a pain to hold direction even in the mild conditions. I returned to the dock in half an hour. Next, the Aquanaut, vastly better than the Quest. Less tippy even though narrower, more responsive to leaning, less affected directionally by the wind and easier to bring back on course, more comfortable in chop. Next the Chatham 18, only 20 inches in beam. Too my great surprise it felt more stable than either of the previous boats, carved turns much better than either, and was extremely easy to hold directionally on track. So a week later I rented the Chatham for an hour and a half, going into the open ocean with mild conditions of 5 ft swells, winds less than 10 kts, but larger boat wakes and chop in the channel. Although I felt completely comfortable in the Chatham I still prefer my old Express and regret selling it. Also, last week I paddled my GTS in the ocean with larger swells and 20 kts winds with no rudder and think that it was also better than the Chatham, easier to hold on course though not as easy to turn. Also the Chatham feels slow for such a narrow boat, but I did not have any way to measure. When I brought the Chatham back I tried the Legend for about half an hour and found it very nice also, not too tippy and not too affected by the wind. But I still somewhat prefer GTS or Express. I will wait to see if Mariner sells their designs to another manufacturer. The trials were at Aqua Adventures on Mission Bay and out Mission Bay Channel to the ocean off San Diego. Very helpful people at Aqua Adventures, though I did not end up buying. Jerry *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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