A differing opinion Allow me to profess my ignorance (and perhaps my agnosticism when it comes to kayak performance), but there are two things I can’t help but mention:
Most every boat I’ve been in handled rough conditions just fine. The difference is in playfulness and (as noted above) ‘feel’. But if you don’t care about playfulness, but rather are intending simply to transit rough water safely, then a wider PNW style boat like the CD Solstice GT will do just as well, perhaps better, than the playful boats mentioned about.
The OP wants to fish. To me, he needs a stable platform to reel in his catch, and he should probably consider a wide boat with a rudder. Again, a big ol’ PNW style boat is probably the best bet.
My experience has been the same I consistently travel the same distance faster in my Current Designs Extreme or Kajaksport Viviane than I do in my Capella 169 or VCP Selkie, as examples. This has been regardless of flatwater, 4-6 foot waves, wind, or calm.
I’ve seen a number of QCC’s in this area. I was always surprised at the number that showed up to the Wrightsville Beach Challenge, a local race. I’ve never paddled one, but would like to give one a try. I never had one finish ahead of me, myself paddling a CD Extreme, Nigel Foster Legend, or CD Solstice GTS. But I’ve never figured that tells that much about how fast I would be in it. I’m no racer, and there are many much faster. I just have always figured the limit of my ability to make reasonable forward progress is the biggest factor determining the limit of the conditions I can safely paddle in. And I seem to favor kayaks that travel more efficiently when I start approaching 3.5 to 4+ knots, and that don’t hit a wall when I have to make runs against currents.
I’m a fan of the CD Nomad/Extreme. I think it’s a great kayak. Not a highly maneuverable kayak, but the positive tradeoffs are obvious and very appreciable when you get out there, and I find the maneuverability quite acceptable.
If you want a somewhat fast kayak with great maneuverability, and the size works for you (lot more room in this one than a Nomad), you should give a look at the CD Gulfstream. Rough water handling, and high maneuverability with lesser sacrifice of speed (compared to Pintail, Romany, Capella 169, Chatham 16). I think it proves too wide in the cockpit for many. But if you care about speed and a strong forward stroke, I think a good, necessary rule is to make sure there is a finger width between your hips and the sides of the seat. This allows rotation. And yes, you can still securely surf and play in rough water while allowing this important room. So if you’re a little wider in the hip area than I, I think D-Hutch came up with something exceptional with the Gulfstream.
Of course, I cannot dismiss a report of a Chatham 16 not too long ago winning a rough-water race. Just how rough it was would have been fun to experience, and fun to observe in terms of the differing kayak’s behaviors out there. As in all races, I also can’t comment on the paddler’s contribution vs the kayak, which is proven to be wildly significant.
3-rd This! My GPS confirms that in both flat and rough conditions I am faster in my 'faster" kayak, the Rapier 18, than in other kayaks I’ve paddled. Not by much over a longer distance but faster.
The problem is that, if I get really tired, in “rough” conditions, a kayak like the Rapier (or the QCC700x or the Epic 18x, not the “sport”) require user activity to stay upright. That uses-up energy and if one is exhausted can be downright a scary experience even in conditions that when “fresh” would be fun.
Plus for fishing, I’d want something stable and comfortable, not something that would ask for a brace here and there. Plus, the cockpit of the QCC700x is short (I can’t get in seat first) and a spray skirt is required (roug conditions), and there is no day hatch (I think). Not exactly a fishing platform - no room for easily accessible fishing gear and fish, unless stuffed in the hatches… But I don’t fish, so what do I know…
"confused seas" Confused paddlers maybe, but the sea is not confused. I like to use the term textured seas myself .
All of the boats mentioned are probably good boats for the conditions you are discussing, but in general terms I like “dumb boats”. That is boats that are not predisposed to any particular behavior without my encouragement. i.e. Neutral both above and below the waterline. Of course the only real test is for you to paddle the boat in the conditions you mention. However, I would recommend training in those conditions to become less confused before one decides on a particular boat. I must confess that I am the distributor of Rockpool Kayaks in North America as well as the producer of the Rockpool Alaw Bach TCC, and as such I have a particular bias for these boats. Good luck and happy paddling!!
handling qualities For A to B travel in windy and choppy conditions, the first requirement is a boat that lets you hold any direction with respect to the wind, without excessive stroking, or sweeps, on one side. It must also be stable enough that you don’t have to interrupt your forward motion for bracing. You must also be able to turn into or off the wind without excessive difficulty. It is also very nice if it does not broach too quickly in following conditions.
Before a boat is deemed good in rough water it should pass these tests.
Rough tide race or surf play requires different handling qualities.
confused The term ‘confused sea state’ is used in the scientific literature, so is a perfectly cromulent word to use.
I mentioned the Coaster above, but in general, all the Mariner Kayaks are famously wind-neutral, resist broaching and are generally well-behaved in dicey conditions. They’re hard to find on the east coast, however.
wave reflections, wind waves at an angle to swell, add some current and rough underwater terrain..yoll get "Confused seas" of course they are not confused, but extremely complicated interactions. waves imposing fase interactions etc..i have studied analogue synths quite a lot..its similar..that being said, im looking forward to cheking out the rockpools! The shopowner where i bought my pintail are now selling rockpool too. We have become very good friends, so i wouldnt be surprised if i end up with an ISEL to compliment the drunk bordercollie
PINNY..fishing...i used to have a pungo: very nice kayak actually..
My go-to yak on our Northern California coast is my 15’SOT with a full body wet suit. Have been in some nasty conditions where the chance of a spray skirt release is a major problem. And remounts are way easier on a big SOT
Mariner Kayaks Odd that you would mention Mariner Kayaks as wind neutral. I have never paddled a kayak more predisposed to lee cocking than a Mariner boat, although the Mariner ll is a very fine boat in other respects. Are you sure you mean Mariner Kayaks from Seattle?
When you are ready to handle rough water you probably don’t need to ask this question.
Sorry to sound like a smart a$$ but it’s like asking what’s the best motorcycle to race with; if you are skilled enough to race you know what bike suit you better.
Thanks…I’ve never undestood "confused" Can the sea be “confused”? I doubt it. Buy whatever kayak fits and gives you a hard-on. Then go paddle the thing on cool trips and forget the internet.
However, though the sea is not confused, the term does exist in the literature and we all have some sense of its meaning.
Among my favorite terms for referring to other than calm water are clapitos (which can readily be ‘confused seas’)and lumpy water.
I am particularly fond of lumpy water as a general term. I believe I first heard the term from Tom Bergh years ago. The other general term for other than calm water often heard in these parts is ‘interesting water’ which I think derives from Steve Maynard.
Hearsay I guess I’m busted, I’ve never managed to paddle a Mariner (yes, the ones from Seattle), but have read in many places that they are wind neutral. So I am reporting hearsay as fact, which is a mistake. If your experience is otherwise, then you get the final word.
I will say that my SC-1, which is a skin-on-frame version of the Coaster, is completely neutral. Apparently the F-1 is similar, but these are Brian’s boats, not Mariner’s.