In my less than 3 years of paddling I paddled over 80 kayaks of all types, and the Force 3 is my favorite! I purchased a Kevlar/Carbon used Force 3 (regular, NOT HV like the title suggests) less than a year ago.
Pros:
-It is light (less than 50 lbs)
-Very fast, including against waves and currents, probably because of the limited rocker as so much of it contributes to the water line.
-Surprisingly very stable for a 20.5" wide kayak, including in pretty rough waves. Unless you're very tall, at 5'6" I feel that both primary and secondary stability are excellent.
-Tracks very, very well. I hardly ever use the skeg.
-Maneuverable; enough that when I edge and change my hand position on the paddle I usually don't need the skeg even in following seas!
-Super low profile (I think the seat may be below the waterline!), so high winds hardly affect it.
-In following seas it surfs exceedingly well. Even if the wave is very small, it outdistances most kayaks out there, and stays pretty close to some 20 foot Surfskis! In fact, I'd say this is where it is head and shoulders above all the other kayaks I've paddled.
-It has a day hatch within easy reach of the cockpit.
-It is easy to roll.
-It edges well but due to the rounded hull, I've paddled others that edged better (hard chines or V-shape hulls).
Cons:
-Allows some water in the hatches if you're practicing your rolling.
-Due to the low volume, if you're practicing the roll without a skirt the cockpit can easily swamp; unless you get rid of the water fast, this can cause the kayak to become very unstable.
-Depth is only 10.5". So unless you're a truly small paddler, you may have the thigh braces quash your legs almost straight! Since I'm 5'6" and have muscular legs, a very tight fit. I wear size 8 shoes and I cannot position my feet up (I sometimes curl them around the foot pegs).
I use the Force 3 for fun paddling and for day trips of over 20 miles. No problem. What a great little kayak! A true gem. The only kayaks that I have not tried yet enough that might give it a run for its money are the Cetus LV and the Tiderace XCEED X-S (Extra Small). Those have a cockpit that fit my body much better, but I did not paddle them long enough and in a variety of elements enough to make a fair comparison with the Force 3.
