My only question to Katabatic is, have you ever seen an NC other than pictures? Have you paddled one. I have seen the CD Caribou and have paddled it. I'm not knocking it, I'm just suggesting that before you judge a boat, you might want to check it out.

I have had many discussions with the guys at NC about some of the issues you questioned. I too was skeptical about some of their claims. All I can say is that seeing and paddling is believing. And the guys who build NC kayaks learned their craft with composites as Boeing engineers, so I think they know what they're doing. I'm not stuck on any one manufacturer, or design, but I do feel that I am entitled to my opinions as much as anyone else is.

I don't think I have ever seriously stated that NC boats are the best for every type of sea kayaking and in fact I have made a point that they are for straight line cruising; they are not a play boat.

If my posts are too tedious for you, just skip over them. They are not required reading. In any case, I am not going to moderate my enthusiasm for what I believe is a fantastic kayak as I wouldn't expect you to be less obsessed with your boats.