If you just want a boat that you can play around in, and don't desire to paddle very far, then go for a really nice looking 10' boat. If you're wanting to cover some distance, I'd go for the less aesthetically pleasant/heavier 3-piece 17' boat. It may be a bit heavier on your car, and take 2 more trips down the stairs, but once you get it on the water, the added weight won't matter, and the added length will be a welcome bonus.

I've paddled the old Perception Dancers and Pirouettes. Admittedly, they're whitewater boats, with slightly more rocker than a Guillemot, but you don't paddle them in a very straight line.

Shawn

> No. I can't do that because my apartment doesn't face the street. The
> balcony faces a private backyard and it would be a mess to lower the 17
> feet kayak to that backyard and take it all the way through my neighbour's
> living room each time I want to take a couple of paddles!

> I'm seriously considering the three parts flanged solution, though it's
> not aestetically pleasant and it's considerably heavier.