Hi Reed, I'd make the North Bay for fast sunday morning paddles with fast paddlers, I'd make the Coho for carrying lots o' stuff and showing off my paddling skills, I'd make the Ches16 for stable bird watching,surf launches/high winds, the Arctic Tern for even more of what the Coho has, Ch17LT for greater loads than the 16, A Merganser 16 because it looks neat and has to paddle as nice as the 17 I tried at the sea kayak symposium, a Merganser 17 because I don't have one.........what was your question? oh which kayak? how much do you weigh, height, give an honest guess whether you will be day paddling (as most of us do) or carrying that 50+lb load o' stuff? Whatever yak you build have fun,it's only 'poxy,wood,glass. ps. a lot of how a boat handles besides the design,your fit(in the yak),your skills, is whether you are light in the boat or on the heavy side. That's why it's important to be honest about the "want to carry stuff" capacity. I work at clc and play in the water.