> I just finished a patuxent 17.5, I would assume that the 19.5 has similar
> handling, if so it has very little primary stability.

Neither of the Patuxents have a lot of initial stability; the 19.5 is very fast, and people have built that boat as a touring boat, with more than a week's worth of gear aboard. The North Bay is almost as fast, might be a little more maneuverable than the Pax's, but has less initial stability. Solid secondary, however. But it would be hard to get a lot of expedition gear into that double-ended pencil!

That said, stability is a relative thing. I'd be much happier in my long, 20" beam North Bay in bigger water than I would in a shorter 25" beam boat --- it's made for the rough stuff, and just takes some getting used to. You might look at the Chesapeake series. Easier to load, carries more, has some good initial and secondary stability, and is a pretty boat.

Jack Martin