Nomad GTS

Excellent boat. Purchased it new in 2014 and have been very happy with the performance.

The smart rudder option should be the standard option and the base price raised to accommodate a toe steer rudder. But you won't need to use a rudder most of the time- this boat tracks beautifully. The base rudder works OK.

The standard seat back is not very comfortable for longer paddles. The optional adjustable seatback works WONDERFULLY and the spray skirt fits over the seatback when raised above the back of the cockpit. Well worth the small extra cost for the improvement in paddling comfort. Note to CD- put the adjustable seatback on all your North American boats.

My boat is the Kevlar high volume model. HV makes entry and exit easier (I'm 62 years old, 5'10" and weigh 190) and creates more wiggle room for my legs on longer paddles.

Fit and finish is excellent. Straight line speed is rewarding- a 12-14 mile flat water paddle is within easy reach on an afternoon paddle with modest paddling effort. I use a Werner bent shaft Kaliste paddle.

In short, this boat replaced my CD Oracle and is a nice step up for hauling more weight.

Very fast gear hauler. Took me awhile to get used to the rudder but I have learned to really appreciate it after having paddled rudderless boats for years. Mine is a Kevlar layup and has been tougher than I expected. The cockpit could be a little longer as I find it a bit difficult to get in and out of the boat but I think practice will provide a remedy for this. The trade off is it's a secure feeling with sprayskirt attached without a lot of room for water implosion. Traditional sweep or C rolling is difficult but doable due to the depth of the boat behind the cockpit. Forward finish roll is easy. Manufacturing quality is excellent.