The Pamlico Excell is a larger version of the Pamlico and is designed to carry two large adults with gear. The smaller version would be a fairly easy solo paddle, while the larger (which I own) is a chore to bring it up to speed alone. Two people can get it cranking though. I don't know who would give you a gift like that Al, but you sure should appreciate it. I would agree with Ray that it's a very useful vessel. But a sea kayak it's not. It's too canoe-like. Think of it as the pick-up truck of kayaks. If you want a sporty yak, you'll have to get a sleeker model. Or build one. That's what I plan to do - with a little help from the users of this bulletin board. But until you're ready to take that step, enjoy the Pamlico. It's a great boat to take out with friends who have no kayaking experience. That's what I did and turned a guy completely on to the sport. He's got his own Wilderness Systems Pungo now, but I expect him to start building a wooden yak along with me. Enjoy!

> Two good friends of mine do a lot of fly fishing from their Pamlicos for
> stripers, blues, false albacore and bonito in the semi-protected waters
> around here in the vicinity of Eastern Long Island and Fisher's Island
> Sounds. Although their cockpits are a little too open for my taste, they
> swear by them and I've seen them go out fishing into some pretty choppy
> rips around Watch Hill.Of course they wear neoprene waders (which are
> buoyant) on the water to keep dry from all of that wave and paddle spray.
> Neither one of them uses their boat as a double however and the huge
> cockpits allow them to carry everything from fishfinders to anchors,
> camcorders and spare rods. I've found that those Pamlico's do offer an
> incredible amount of primary stability, one guy even uses his as as dive
> boat. I warn them not to become complacent however about that rock solid
> feel, because high primary stability is not as desirable a characteristic
> when the waves start growing.Of course they won't listen to me until one
> of them capsizes. If they do go over, it's a cinch to reenter a Pamlico
> but a real chore to bail all of that water back out.