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Name: svsilverfin
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I paddle a Wilderness Systems Tempest 180 in glass which is a really nice boat I am very happy with. As a big guy at 240 and 5'10" it is plenty big enough. I am wondering if anyone has paddled both boats and can give me a comparison. The boats are pretty similar in that both are skeged and have the same hatch covers. The WS 180 is a foot longer and at 23" slightly narrower (but with ample stability for photography or fiddling with a phone) . I wonder if the Gulfstream is more lightly driven....ie at easy cruising speeds unloaded feels lighter to paddle. The WS 180 wants a strong paddle stroke to perform and go what seems pretty fast but at 64YO finding that I may want to go easier and even switch to a Greenland paddle to put less stain on my body. I am guessing the Gulfstream has slightly less wetted area making it an easier kayak to paddle slow and long....any comparisons out there. It is possible the difference is so slight that it doesn't make sense to switch boats now that I have this one set up.