Hello-I too own a Dirigo 17! I'm on my 2nd one. My 1st was destroyed by the U.S.Coast Guard.(Long story.) I only broke two ribs. The one I presently own is on its 2nd (refiberglassed) bottom. The 1st took me from R.I. to Block I. then to Montauk L.I.N.Y. and around it (L.I.) and back to my then home of Newport R.I..
While working on a 105' charter fishing boat out of San Diego CA. the owner of the boat had no problem with me keeping my kayak on top of the wheelhouse for the 3 yrs. I was onboard . It had been places no other Dirigo17 has ever been. The wildest was probably Clipperton Atoll or maybe the Revillagegidos I..After that I lived in coastal WA. for 2yrs. so I paddled around the San Juans a little. Now my second boat takes me around the Adirondacks , Lk. Champlain,St. Lawrence R.+Seaway,and occasionally back to where it all began in S.New England and Eastern L.I.. I'm leaving out places I forgot and some I'm trying to forget.
Quite simply I love my kayak and would like to join the prestigious Dirigo17 Yacht Club.
All the best, Bill Stahl