Okay...all things considered: So WHAT is The BEST Sea Kayak on the market? with what length & width? What do ya think?

I think you have to qualify the answer a whole lot. Obviously, what might be best for any given paddler is going to depend on their size, their abilities and exactly what type of use they intend for the boat. Some boats are pretty good at various applications, but some compromises are inevitable if you choose an all-arounder.

It's very much like trying to pick the "best" car, truck, motorcycle, etc., etc. It cannot be done in a general context.

Every boat is a compromise. I think we can all pick favorite boats - these are usually boats that perform well for our ability and the type of paddling we enjoy.

Last summer we paddled 104 miles of the Missouri Breaks. This meant having at least a gallon of water per person per day, plus wag bags and the means of carrying out our waste. On top of this a week's camping equipment and food along with safety gear.

We took our 24 year old Sea Otters and they were the perfect boat (for that application) would they be the perfect boat for playing in rough water not a chance.

y goals are for decent speed, fir my 220 lb 6' body And the most important is good in rough water as I live on the canal and can go into the bays and canals. The ocean is about a 40 minute paddle may be 30 to the inlet for some good swells & waves on the rougher days.

Mine.

The one I'm selling.

Clearly, as previously stated, one has to ask: best for what type of paddling? Then on top of that, there is unlikely to ever be one "best", but rather a short list of "among the best".

That being said, for paddling in a combination of rough water (surf, high winds, confused seas, etc), I have found the Illusion by Sterlings Kayaks to be an amazing boat. It has tremendous rocker and phenomenal turning ability, yet still manages to track well, even without the "skeel". Speaking of "skeel", this is a brilliant design. It is a skeg, but it is located just aft of the paddler, which allows it to assist tracking in quartering seas and eliminate any weathercocking when desired, yet still allows good turning when deployed and does not stick out of the water when on steep waves. The kayak fits like a glove: deck height can be cut down to customize the fit, the seat is perfection, and I ordered it with a custom-fit bulkhead (rather than the SeaDog foot braces), which is absolutely worthwhile if you ever have that option. When paddling with steep beam seas or confused seas, the hull simply ignores them; just keep paddling. As to construction, with their high-suction infusion process, you get a very light yet very strong construction.

The bottom line is that this boat is like an extension of one's body, and is wonderfully transparent while paddling. By that, I mean that it just does whatever you want it to, such that you focus simply on the seas and your paddling, not the boat.

No doubt this boat belongs on the very shortest list of performance boats for rough waters. If you need more space for touring (for the Illusion, one would have to pack as a travel-light backpacker), there is the Grand Illusion, which shares many of the handling features, but with more volume. And they have recently come out with the Reflection, which looks to have even quicker turning, yet with novel front chines and more volume, to better serve those paddling large surf.

Prior to the Illusion, I paddled an NDK Explorer (with a custom Joe Greenley foam seat...same as the Illusion), and that is a wonderful, well-proven all-around paddler and competent tourer for any conditions.

Seaward Kayaks Nigel Foster Shadow is a great performance kayak. Also any of the High Volume Seaward singles, Tyee, Vision, Chilco, Quest, Ascente. All are fast, safe kayaks.
Try one on, you won't be disappointed.

Enjel, I'm confused. I thought that NC Kayaks were the best kayaks for everybody, and now you come and tell everybody that Seaward Kayaks are the best there is. Both can't be true, surely.

Seriously, I'm surprised that anybody responded to the initial post in this thread. And that they expected to be taken seriously. Magooch and Mikekayak had the only intelligent responses.

I don't think there is any harm in allowing folks to ask questions and give opinions. Things are slow enough around here lately; we sure don't need to discourage, or stifle participation.

That said, I thank you Magic, for your kind compliment.