Romany Excel Im 6’3" 255lbs with long legs. ACA L4 Instructor and paddle the Romany Excel. I find it does everything well. It holds plenty of gear for tripping, surfs great, and has decent speed. I’ve paddled 33 mile days and did an expedition on the outerbanks of NC. Like any boat, it could improve in each area, but then it becomes a different boat. It is heavy, but pretty durable as I am hard on equipment and have broken many toys.
Honorable mention:
P&H Cetus HV -(use standard seat, not the connect seat)
Valley Etain 177
Current Designs Isle (Rolls easily, but high seat back is bad for Greenland layback rolls)
Sterling Grand Illusion
Tempest 180 (No Longer in production)
Aries 155 (remove foot pegs and use standard seat, not the connect seat)
contacted Big Matt - his response Here is what Big Matt said in response to me asking what boats fit (reminder - Matt is 6’7" and under 200 pounds):
----start quote—
I don’t think there is a kayak greater than 17’4" that I’m not able to fit into.
I would be able to fit into a fair amount of kayaks in the 16’-17’ range IF I drilled and re-mounted the footrails/ footpegs further away from the seat.
Here is a list of kayaks, shorter than 17’, that I can fit into WITHOUT any modifications:
Foot Size and Weight … Foot size and weight are the limiting factors at these heights. The foot size, because boats get narrower and lower in the area where our feet are for us 6’+ folks. Also, someone with size 15 feet like me needs an extra couple of inches leg length than someone with a size 12, since n most kayaks there is no room to get my feet up or sideways, they have to point way forward to fit, especially with footwear.
Weight, for obvious reasons - we don’t want submarines…
Lots of boats mentioned. I’ll add Necky Chatham 18, which should fit length and foot room-wise. I just bought one and fit in it well at my 6’4", 200lb, size 15 feet, 36" waist. Storage space is a bit more limited vs. some taller decked boats, so packing for extended tours might be more challenging.
I do have nice memories from the Assateague too, but has been many years since I sat in one. I remember it being spacious, lively, and eager to turn via edging…
I fit in the Tempest 170 fine too, the 180 would be roomier.