Bob, my take, as usual, is different from Magooch's. If you like the look and the price of the Necky Narpa, I say--buy it, then paddle it a lot; get used to it; get used to paddling it; get used to how it handles; get used to all kinds of paddling in the boat--with the wind, across it, against it--long trips, short trips.

Have fun, go paddling, learn about open water and its opportunities and its dangers and hazards and how to paddle safely. In the PNW, you should make sure to hook up with safe, responsible, knowledgable sea kayakers who know what they are doing. Then maybe you'll either want another boat, or you will decide to keep the Narpa. Few kayakers stay with their first boats, so how are you to know now what your dream boat is?