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We really like this Tandem! This is the fourth tandem we have owned, and still own a Crosswinds that we like, but we keep for friends that are having their first experience in a kayak.

We bought the kayak this spring and have only used this in the ocean. In light conditions, little wind and flat seas we leave others behind. In these conditions the rudder is not necessary, as this kayak responds well to sweep strokes for turning, while tracking very well when the intention is to go straight.

This past weekend we gave it a very good test, paddling 9 miles around Bartlett Island off MDI. Conditions were a slight breeze and a little chop in the lee of the island when we started, and we knew we would encounter rough water on the open side of the island. We paddled through 2 1/2 foot seas and 20 to 25 mph winds for 2 of our 3 hour trip, and the kayak was grand. The trip the previous week took only 2 hours. While we had to be attentive on every stroke and watch every wave, and had a lot of them coming up over our spray skirts, we had full faith in our Two Lights. I used the smart-track rudder system the whole trip, and could put the kayak where it needed to be. Most challenging paddle I've done in 40 years, and loved the way the kayak handled.

My only reason for giving a 9 and not a 10 is I wish the screws on the inside of the boat had acorn nuts on the ends, to prevent any accidental scrapes. But we car-top this kayak like we do our singles, and look forward to years of paddling. We have the fiberglass version, so it probably weighs 55 lbs. The kevlar is about 47, but out of my price range. I think this is a great value.

Update to earlier review:
I liked the Crosswind so much I just bought a second one (used). Now I'll hand off the Sea Twin to someone to get them interested in kayaking.

I wish every tandem was a pleasant to paddle as the Current Design Crosswind. My wife and I have been solo paddling for more than thirty years. When she experienced carpel tunnel syndrome we decided to add a tandem to our fleet for times she wished to paddle but might not have the grip to do a long solo trip. We purchased a rotomolded Sea Twin used from a company that offers tours along the coast of Maine, and it was like trying to push a bathtub through the water. It was slow and heavy, but quite stable, and quite a departure from our solo boats, a fiberglass WS Sealution and a fiberglass WS Tempest 165.

We purchased the plastic Crosswind from someone who had almost completed a three person stitch and glue kit kayak - they needed space for a small child. Tandem paddling this is a pleasure. Most of our trips are in the six to twelve mile range, and with two of us paddling it is like we were both in our solo kayaks. The ride is fairly dry, though we do use spray skirts when the air is cool or we think the water will get choppy. We do use the rudder at all times, something we don't usually do with our solo boats, but I think this is a function of the design. With the rudder engaged there is no trouble tracking, and because of the contours we can turn in a shorter radius than several other tandem boats we have tried. There is very little problem with weather cocking due to the low profile.

When tandem paddling we may touch paddles once or twice on a twelve mile trip, but only if one person is turning around to check out something behind them. This has also been my experience when taking novice kayakers out in the boat- there is very good separation between the cockpits. I have a friend who is 6'4" and was comfortable in the bow cockpit on a seven mile trip. There is a great deal of storage room and the hatches are always dry. We have only day tripped but the previous owners were frequent campers and found the storage space very good.

We keep the Sea Twin for people who wish to join us but are leery of ocean kayaking, as it is impossible to tip, but for tandem kayaking it is the Crosswind for us every time. This would score 9 of 10 with us.