: Romany 16 is more maneuverable than my Avocet, and still my favorite. Both
: are plenty fast, but in really big stuff I think the ROMANY 16 will net
: faster, more efficient progress.
Thanks Murray. I've never spent any quality time in the Romany 16, and only in moderately rough conditions so far. I know the Romany 16 feels like a pig on flat water, but that's not the conditions it was designed for. Tradeoffs everywhere.
Probably I have the right boat for me, as I'll see more flat water than really big stuff here in Montana!
: Tempest
: is to me just a big Northwest style boat with brit looks. Doesn't do it
: for me, but some folk seem to appreciate, and enjoy it. Lots of volume.
I had the Tempest out in surf, and it broached more than my Guillemot 18. I didn't think its volume was too high, but I'm long-legged, and also didn't see it next to a Romany or Avocet for comparison....
Do you think the Explorer is faster than the Romany in rough water, or is the bow wave/displacement formula not really a limiting factor anymore?
: Speed is really relative. All touring kayaks do fine really. While the
: formula of square root of waterline length x 1.34 applies more to large
: displacement hulls with wider beams, it's still a decent baseline for
: estimating kayak hull speed. Some use 1.4. The bottom line is that really
: the speed differences are not as great based on length as most think.
I think you feel length differences somewhat on flat water, but you're right--handling and windage get more important in rough water. For the average paddler, hull length means squat--more important is how efficient is the boat when paddled at the 3kt pace of the slowest paddler in your group.
: Handling, and effect of wind on the kayak are to me, far greater
: variables. Mariner Coaster (13 ft.) is a great example of a legendary
: design that rules in outer coastal waters. I suspect we will see shorter
: more highly maneuverable sea kayaks in years to come. Look at what most
: avid outer coastal boaters are paddling - instructors - guides. Playful
: boats!
And often, they're not going in any particular direction at one time--hull speed means even less. If you have a "fast boat", but spend a lot of effort staying on course, you're not getting to hull speed anyway. Probably best off having a maneuverable boat you can keep on your chosen heading (if you want), and make decent progress.
Definitely starting to see more people seeking out the playful boats. Can I have speed with that? You can't always have it all, but you can still want it all! 
Who cares if a client's Arluk is faster than the guide's Romany if the group is moving at 3kts. If someone tips, the maneuverable boat can get to the capsizee faster anyway. Then, on private days, the guide has a fun boat.
But ultimately, we all have a huge quiver of boats to choose from anyway, right?! 
Thanks for your comments,
Shawn
