Previous kayaks were a Current Designs Kestrel 12 HV and a Seaward Quest 19'. The Kestrel HV is a great boat for bouncing down rocky rivers but too wide to be fast and although i had done several multiday trips, it lacks enough dry storage for comfortable camping. The Seaward was the other extreme. Fast and could hold much gear but unwieldy, and difficult for this 71 year old to load to the roof rack. The Alchemy is very close to the perfect boat for extended trips in the Adirondacks. It is very fast, and and the 3 hatches hold easily a weeks gear. My 6' 210lbs body with size 14 feet fits comfortably although i do prefer to get out and stretch every hour and a half.or so. I did make 6 map miles on flat water in 70 minutes fully loaded with gear. There is enough rocker to make it very nimble but it tracks fairly well with the skeg up. Skeg down, it is on rails. Have not yet had it in big water but it is a ball in 2 footers and powerboat wakes. No regrets buying this boat.
