Earlier in this thread, in a reply to Timax, I noted a spectrum among kayakers, with Explorers at one end and Players at another. I should have postulated a three-way, triangular grid, with Explorers and Players each at their own corner of the triangle, and Racers occupying the third corner. Racers comprise actual racers and also fitness/workout enthusiasts. These are the intended audience for the various go-fast boats (including surf skis) on the market. A "well-rounded", middle of the road paddler would thus occupy a position toward the center of this triangular grid. I personally am somewhat over toward the Explorer corner. Interesting, though, that Big Trip Explorer paddler Freya Hoffmeister is in a go-fast Epic 18X for the Australia circumnavigation. Did she pick it out? Was it provided free of charge? She and Greg Stamer paddled NDK Explorers for their Iceland circumnavigation. Paul Caffyn always uses ruddered Nordkapps. It may well be that, once you become a powerful, skillful sea kayaker, you find a way to bring out the best in whatever boat you're in.