We are a novice couple who have only been out a few times. This was our first experience with a non-plastic kayak. What we noticed:
- It was *very* long. This avoided paddle bump, but we were so far apart we couldn't hear one another, even though it was quiet.
- Storage. What was between us - adding all the extra length - was storage. This would be excellent for longer trips. The group we with used us as the team pack mules. Which made it...
- Heavy. It's already going to be heavier than a plastic kayak; adding all that extra stuff made paddling a lot more work than we're used to. Since it's was the longest trip we've takes so far, that part wasn't pleasant.
- Adjustable footrests - very nice and accommodated both of us (4'11 and 5'10"), but hard to adjust and they slipped several times.
- Skeg. The "driver" hated it. That may be inexperience, but he didn't find it helpful.
- More about the storage. It's so far away from the seats that you can't reach in during pauses, say, for a camera or a snack. You have to carry what you need in the footwell or under the bungees (those carried the water bottles well).
- Seats - both of us found the angle of the seats unsatisfactory, a problem we hadn't experienced before. We both got sore backs.
- Out of the water - it *is* very heavy. I wouldn't like to own it unless I had one of the lift racks that lets you load at waist level.
- Very long means extra charges on the ferry and a the need for some extra space where you land and take off as well some awareness when you're driving.
Overall - probably too much for us, but if the seats work for you, it would be good for people who want to take longer trips or take along the dog or kid in the center section, which I understand can be converted to use as a triple.
