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II really like this kayak. I have a wilderness Pungo but it was not great for long paddles rough water and winds, Islay does all of that and more. With the skeg which is easy to deploy and retract it tracks like a dream. The kayak is fast and really moves in all kinds of water. I kayak in the Carquinez Straits in the San Francisco Bay Area and it is best to watch tide charts when kayaking. It can also get quite windy and choppy as well. The Islay handles all of that and provides great secondary leaning with adequate contact for bracing. I have not rolled over yet but have had to employ leaning, bracing and recovery to stay upright. The Islay has forward and aft water tight compartments and bulks heads, with lots of storage room. The cockpit is small but at 220 pounds, 5 ‘ 11”I can easily get in and out from a dock. Inside the cockpit the foot braces can easily be adjusted without having to lean forward and bend down as there are paddles hat are reachable from sitting position and adjust with a twist push or pull. It comes with thigh pads for bracing but it made getting in and out more difficult so I removed them bit I can still brace with my knees and lower thighs. I have all 5 points of contact when paddling. I have recently added a kayak sail and it is a hoot In down wind conditions. The only issue I have is the weight it is about 45# and not easy to lift and carry at my age. I have wheels and or try to launch from a boat ramp. It is plastic but I need the rugged construction. I have a truck so loading unloading is not bad. It would be pretty difficult to load on a roof rack. The fun I have once I get in the water easily overcomes any issues with loading and unloading.

I purchased the Islay after an outing with friends who had touring kayaks. We went to Elk Horn Slough in Moss Landing California for our outing. I had a 10' Wilderness Pungo and got waxed trying to keep up with them. I called California Canoe and Kayak to ask their opinion on touring Kayaks with durability (plastic) The recommended the Islay. When I tried it out I was ex tactic, It handled and tracked like a dream with the skeg. After I purchased it I have been in Carquinez Straits which are along my home town Benicia. The straits can be difficult with tide current and wind. The Islay was awesome. It has great balance and secondary lean which took some time to get used to. I have been able to zip around in a comfortable cockpit that was not wide open as the Pungo was. I have used with and without the spray skirt and like the option of being able to have an open cockpit on hot days. The Islay has two storage compartments fore and aft that are more than adequate. The kayak is very squirrely without the skeg and does not track well. I have a 5th wheel RV that I used to mount the Pungo to (vertically on the back ladder I have kayak stirrups and straps) I was able to take the Islay on my RV ventures and in a lake it is an absolute dream. It is heavy but that is what I expected because I am hard on kayaks and wanted durability