I bought my Willow (Kevlar) late last fall without paddling it. Crazy, I know, but I had paddled the similar but longer Cypress and loved it. I wanted a boat that was a bit shorter and a bit lighter. I'd done my homework and the Willow fit the bill. The first time I put it in the water I knew I'd made a good choice.
The boat fits me perfectly and is well behaved. I am not a complete beginner, but I am definitely a paddler still in early learning mode. In the Willow I feel safe but am able to challenge myself. I paddle on Lake Superior and feel safe when I'm in my boat. I don't paddle when the weather is too rough, but I've been out plenty of times in 2-3 foot waves.
The Willow is steady and reliable. With or without the skeg it tracks like a dream. It's only 41# and is easy for me to handle both on and off the water. I'm a 50 year old 5'4", 145# woman, My son who is 5'9" and 165 # loves my Willow. My daughter who is 5'0" and 120 # also loves my boat... You can imagine why I worry about someone deciding it's theirs instead of mine I guess we'd just have to get another....
I had a Wilderness Systems Tempest 165 before this and there is no comparison (for me). I would get numb legs and a sore back when I paddled the Tempest for more than about 15 minutes. This never happens with the Willow. I can go for hours and never feel fatigue due to ergonomics. Based on my experience (paddled about 20 different types of sea kayaks) I"m surprised that the Willow is not more popular. In fact, prior to buying I couldn't even find a review of the boat.
I whole heartedly give my Willow a "10" - based on my needs. I paddle Lake Superior and larger inland lakes in Northern Minnesota. I am usually only in my boat a few hours at a time, but I feel confident that I'd be comfortable in it for longer stretches.
