1) I am new to this message board and appreciate referrals to archived messages if I'm repeating a topic.

2) Just getting started in open water paddling.I welcome the opportunity to learn from your expercience.

Today I paddled the new Current Designs Cypress during a demo paddle. I really liked the boat a lot. Very comfortable, easy to handle, quick and manuverable.

On the way home, I was looking at the CD catalog and noticed that the CD Willow is the same boat as the Cypress, but the Willow is approx. one foot shorter (Willow is 15'6", Cypress is 16'9"). Do these few inches make that big of a difference in oopen water paddling? If so, why?

This will not be my first boat. I have been paddling with my husband for about three years now. Done a lot of Florida's wonderful streams, rivers and lakes. I currently paddle a CD Kestrel 140. We've started taking some Gulf side trips.I'd like a better boat for open water so that its easier to get back upstream against an outgoing tide to landing points. I can do these in the Kestrel, but keeping up is an issue when your pushing a 26" wide boat.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any guidance. Thanks!

deb