Dog, there's no hurry to get into a narrower boat. A friend of mine who's been paddling longer than I have, owns 7 kayaks, including a CD Solstice, a CD Extreme, and a CD Stratus. What kayak does he use more than all the others combined? The Solstice. I've found that the pleasure of sea kayaking is enjoying the trip itself: the easy, repetitive stroking, the texture of the water, the wildlife, the scenery, the sounds, the smells, your companions, the excitement of new water. The boat is best that least interferes with/most facilitates feeling good on the water. Enjoy your Solstice to the max!