Though my brother built a kayak from sticks and canvas in the '70s, my experience is pretty short. My wife and I retired, bought a cabin and my first kayak only 10 years ago, This is my experience:
When you're retired, you have lots of time to paddle, winter/summer. The wind here can easily hit 45mph with decent waves, and so I found out early I didn't want a sit-inside, as the entire rear half of your kayak can go under water when riding aforementioned waves and this results, for me, in a flooded kayak. I didn't like bailing (nor using a skirt). We live on an opaque shallow lake with sandstone boulders which I found out pretty much rules out fiberglass etc. So, plastic, sit on top, that's what I need. So after several additional disasters, bought a RTM Tempo and wore it out.
I recently bought a Scupper 14, and frankly I'm astonished. This is a quantum leap over anything I've ever tried. Bow to stern it is incredibly thought out. First off, you sit up at a great angle, comfortably (nice when approaching 70, in fact damn nice); a fantastic design when doing 15 or 20 miles. I was going to replace the included seat with an expensive one I used on the RTM, but I don't think I'm going to, the Scupper 14's is that nice.
It's fast and stable. Obviously, plastic kayaks aren't racers, but this one would surprise you. Scupper Pro/RTM Tempo seem to generally be considered fast for plastic SOTs; this if faster. When I first sat in it, for a few seconds I thought it tippy, but as soon as I settled in, I found it very responsive with good primary stability and the secondary stability is just remarkable. I attribute this to the foot-well below the water line.
Speaking of foot-well. There are genuine adjustable foot braces, easily adjustable on the fly by remote levers close to the seat, not various water collection divots for you heals. The console between the wells can be gripped with the legs for more control, and there are automatic drains for the below-level foot wells should you be out in the 45 mph gusts. They work, but you've got to paddle. maybe 4+mph. Because of the console, the wells don't hold much water anyway.
There are hatches everywhere for everything if you desire, or you can buy it for less (I did) and add your own and there are molds in the deck, for each one, including fishing rod holders. If you buy the plain-Jane, it comes with a large bow hatch that lets no water in and you into the hold, and also a nice latch-able hatch on the console. I don't use one as I find it tracks well, but it is already drilled and tapped for a rudder.
Two other things I forgot and I don't want to go back and fit them in. This is narrower than the already-narrow RTM, yet has more room in the seat well as the hull in narrower between the seat well and outer hull. this also results in being able to paddle more vertically than any other plastic SOT I've seen. That, and depending on which level you buy, it comes with, or is already drilled and tapped, for a skid plate. Oh, and the beagle likes it too.
So, comfort, stability, speed, maneuverability, durability, and high end accoutrements; it's just a blast. An astonishing blast.
