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I bought my Baidarka Explorer new in 1987. I've had it all around the Great Lakes and in Southeast Alaska and have no regrets. After 32 years I do not want for a different boat. It has utterly met my expectations for a fast kayak that will carry sufficient gear for extended unsupported expeditions.

At the time it was generally considered the nominal equal of the Valley Nordkapp. I chose the Baidarka Explorer after a comparative test-paddle. I liked it better than the Nordkapp because I was (and still am) a bit too tall for the Nordkapp with its lower fore-deck. My friends all chose Nordkapps and we generally agreed that performance was similar.

Surprisingly, my sister who was slight of build also chose the Baidarka Explorer and used it to good effect for many years, too. I do think that she suffered more than me from the initial instability because she was lighter even when loaded to the gills with camping gear.

I'm sure my fiberglass boat is heavier than contemporary kayaks but I find it acceptable. The construction has withstood the test of time very well. It remains glossy and polishes up easily. Mine has no spider-cracks and seems quite rigid owing to the absence of flat surfaces, I guess. There is some wear on the keel from thousands of beach-landings. The v-hull does not help this part as it presents a small bearing area to the ground.

It is fast and as stated by others, gets better as load is added. The twitchiness when empty goes away when loaded. That said, a good paddle-brace is vital; the same as with any performance kayak. At 20-1/2" beam, it is going to be sensitive, but the good part is easy control in beam-seas.

Mine has the small "Ocean Cockpit" which is cozy and easier to seal with a smaller spray-skirt. I prefer that to the large "key-hole" cockpits. It is drier than a Nordkapp in a head-sea and does not typically spear the waves like the Nordkapp, so the deck stays drier.

At the time, the only available hatches were 7-1/2" VCP. These remain air-tight on my ancient boat. The replacement hatches however no longer allow the stainless steel seal-bands to work. I think the thickness of the hatch material has changed. They fit the hatch combing but the bands won't latch anymore. I find that loading gear through the small hatch holes presents no big challenge. The trick is to use long stuff-bags of appropriately small diameter.

The only negative I can convey about the Baidarka Explorer is the tendency to weathercock slightly in quartering following seas, especially at speed. At such times I wish for a skeg. I do not consider this quality important enough to reject the design.

Despite the "whiz-bang" improvements featured on modern boats, if I were in the market and found a Baidarka Explorer for sale, I'd snap it up in a minute.