Re: I went smaller
Kudzu, if you don’t mind me asking, what’s your height and weight?
I’m 5’ 9" and 165 Pounds
Here’s a trick: move the seat back a couple of inches and it makes it fit like a glove. I have a buddy at about 6’ 4" and about 195 pounds who paddles the Tempest 165 comfortably. Awhile back he paddled my smaller Alchemy with no complaints. Same deal, I moved the seat back in it.
For a day boat go smaller…but…
Why that boat for a day boat? I’d sure want something either faster or more playful. For most of the day boat stuff I’d want something like an Aries or Delphin if you are looking at P&H. I’d really like an Alchemy for a day boat too.
Like you, I’m a "medium"
and could go either way between the larger and smaller boats. I went with smaller for now because I’m a day tripper, not a camper, and light weight is important to me because I lug it around myself for the most part.
A smaller hull also displaces less water, therefore is more easily paddled at typical cruising speeds. If you want that last burst of speed on a sustained basis, you will need to go to a longer boat.
Sometimes I am tempted to go longer for the additional speed, but in the same size cockpit that fits me like a glove. A cockpit that is too large is no fun at all.
Do not
My advice would be to spend as much time as posible in the boats that make your short list and not be too influenced by boat specs. It’s often the form those specs fit into that really makes the difference. I’d also be concerned about what kind of water conditions would be most prevalent in your paddling.
A fast boat is almost always more fun than a boat that too quickly limits out and here again, it’s going to be about actually paddling and comparing how they feel to ya. I’ve also learned to be very skeptical about first impressions.
just thought of this…
All else being equal, the lower volume boat is going to be easier to roll, yes?
Nope- too tight limits you
A boat that is too tight is also hard to roll.
Try this on the floor - typical leg position for kayaking - legs slightly splayed, sitting up straight on your sits bones w/o rounding your pelvis. Try lifting one hip and then the other. Notice how high you can lift and ease.
Now try with your knees too close, observe. Try lifting one hip and then the other. Notice how high you can lift and ease.
Lastly, try with your legs straight out and knees down. Try lifting one hip and then the other. Notice how high you can lift and ease.
Which works better for you? That is what you should be looking for in fit.
So…
All those low volume snug fitting Greenland kayaks are hard to roll because they are too tight? You might want to do some more research. 
Yes but…
– Last Updated: Jul-11-12 8:05 AM EST –
It is also importaint that the kayak fits you and matches your body type in order to get the most out of it. I find lower volume kayaks not just easier to roll but easier to control. Just be sure that you are comfortable and will be able to stay in the kayak for long periods of time. There is always a bit of compromise either way.
On another note. Do not get all hung up on manufacturer suggested weights limits. There's a good amount of leeway there. I'm 6' and weigh 190 lbs but paddle MV and LV boats only.
lay back vs hip snap
Good catch. The main difference is that traditional rolling/Greenland utilizes more upper body action rather than lower body. Think about a traditional lay back roll w/ sweep. No hip snap is needed at all.
Greenland rolls/hipsnap
A standard Greenland roll (layback) uses plenty of hipsnap. Actually hipsnap is a misnomer since the movement is not violent, but is gradual and strong. Tremendous lift is generated from the paddle but it would be a mistake to think this technique is all upper body.
Some rolls, such as an armpit (aka shotgun) roll do use mostly sweep and very little hipsnap, and some Greenland rolls are primarily hipsnap (hand and norsaq rolls). Other rolls are a mix of paddle/hand sweep and hipsnap.
That said, an overly tight Greenland kayak isn’t great for rolling as you still need to move your lower body. Even a “cheater” rolling kayak has some room to move around. Also, if too skinny and too tight you might windowshade (come up and then go over again on the other side).
In the context of this thread, I assume the OP is not looking for a “competition rolling kayak”. If you have a good roll (just trying to come up – not trying to do anything fancy) it won’t matter if it, for example, you are trying to roll a regular NDK Explorer or a HV NDK Explorer, either will roll fine.
Greg Stamer
say
This is a bit like chasing a dark cat in a big room
What are you numbers - height and weight?
Re: say
5’11". Weight bounces around somewhere between 210 and 225, depending on time of year and how good I’ve been lately on working out and eating well.
I’ve also got some fairly big buff thighs too, which are a worry in the fit department. Not sure why, I don’t do leg presses or squats or anything, they just are.
OK
I think the TideRace boats and SKUK/NDK are worth looking into.
PH Cetus models might be a bit problematic due to the knee tube - you mentioned wanting to bring knees together. TideRace boats have knee tubes as well.
PH Quest and Quest LV are worth a consideration as well - they allow for the more knees up ergonomics.
Can’t comment on Valleys
re: OK
To be clear, I didn’t say I wanted to bring my knees together, rather that I liked my knees higher and closer together than the traditional splayed-out ‘yoga’ position.
Knees all the way together would be pretty uncomfortable, I’d think 
Re: Tiderace boats, do they really have true knee tubes standard, or is it just the underside of the small 4th hatch intruding a bit into centerline underdeck space?
If its the latter, probably no big deal, as again I don’t want my knees completely together.
The Quest seems interesting, thanks for the recommendation. The Cetus seems to be the mainstay of P&H’s expedition boat line now, but some ppl complain about how big and intrusive the ‘glovebox’ is. THAT could be a problem.
Thank you
Thanks, Greg. It’s nice to hear someone of your obvious expertise level weigh in. Much appreciated. 
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To clarify - the 4th hatch, just in front of the cockpit, protrudes into leg area.
Knees together - that is a typical racing/surfski paddling posture. Some folks prefer it to the frog legged position.
re: .
Yeah, I don’t think I want the full-on ski position, where the feet and knees are completely together. Something more like the position the Etain puts you into, knees definitely higher and closer together than the traditional frog-legged position, but not full-on ski.
In other words, still a sea kayak position, but ‘modernized’.
On 4th hatches, they vary. The TR ones seem fairly shallow, but the one on the Cetus looks DEEP and in the way. =[
If you get a chance…
…try the Tiderace Xtra…I own TR Xplore S, and Xtreme, which rock my world, and complete my life…and thought the Xtra was just a big funky weird orphan child…till I paddled it…pleasantly impressed and surprised…if you have a TR dealer near, give it a spin.
Etain 17-5, Xplore M, Explorer HV…
Awesome thread, thanks for the many responses
Any Etain 17-5, Xplore M, or Explorer HV owners/tryers wish to chime in on how bigg you can be and still use those as day boats (as opposed to overloading them)?
Reading around elsewhere, I get the impression that maybe 210 to 220 is about the max (good) paddler weight for the first two boats, perhaps a bit more for the Explorer HV.
But I dunno. I tend to trust ppl’s direct experiences more than I do stats on a website.