I was just looking for clues about what to test for when I demo the boat and he is all that came up.
Braveheart is half the cost of the Progression so I doubt that I will overthink the decision 
I am hatching a conspiracy to paddle up here next summer so while i want the boat by then, it will not matter “in the scope of life”
I have to have goals to get through the dark winter. We drove by there but did not have our kayaks.
All the ocean play boats have good rocker. You might also want to search for rough water boats. Many of the British style boats like Valley and SKUK (NDK) kayaks have models you might be interested in like the Romany you mentioned. There are many other companies also.
It should be a good rough water boat if it is meant for the surf. I would have wanted to test it conditions rather than flat water That’s my opinion. Laughing about gelcoat worry, but I don’t drag any of my boats on a rough surface.
What is the name of the category, do you know?
NOT a touring, NOT a recreational …but what?
“kayaks with rocker”
To demo a boat in the surf is a tall order here, I have enough of a challenge with the eight-week summer. The Sterlings are made an hour from our house but they are too expensive IMO. The used market is really slim, I am surprised. I think I am not on the right servers or something because nothing is coming up. Lincoln kayaks ship for about $600.
I’m not sure what to call them other than play kayaks/rough water kayaks. Check out this thread and ask some questions.
OK NDK (SKUK), I want a Romany Classic MINUS - Paddlers’ Place - Paddling.com
I did watch the video and like what I saw. It seems it would fit in with the boats being talked about in the link to the thread I posted. Just don’t expect it to be as fast as the boat you have.
think about any of the CD Danish designs?
You are unlikely to find a dealer that will allow you to demo a kayak, especially a sea kayak, in surf. Unless you are skilled, and even then, there is too much risk of injury and/or damage to the boat.
Maybe a Prana? The duty and the shipping would be high though 
I was suggesting in rougher water than flat water. A bit of wind and waves. I wouldn’t expect doing the surf zone. 
I’ll take one of each.
$$$$$
Those do appear to be Ally folding canoes along the pool side. But foldables have always been popular and practical in Europe, where people tend to have smaller homes and small or no garages or even driveways. And throughout Europe you can go from home to a lot of recreational locations via trains and other public transport, unlike in the USA, so having a boat that fits in a duffel bag can be liberating.
I think Globetrotter has most foldable/packable canoe and kayak brands covered in their store. I have a little experience with them, but I just wondered if I would describe those kind of boats as ‘playful’ and suitable for use in surf-like conditions.
Wow! We are literally driving there now!
Husband getting ready to hike Mont Blanc for ten days. I’ll look around and report back.
They look fabulous! Makes me want to head to the beach!!
As with any line of kayaks, it depends on the model of folding kayak. And also what you mean by “surf-like conditions.” Here is the Nautiraid Nook. And I have known outfitters who use Ally folding canoes and the very similar PakCanoes from PakBoat in class 2 and 3 whitewater. The Trak folding kayaks have hydraulic frame extenders so that the rocker can be increased for better performance in rough water.
A lot of people equate folding kayaks with the bulky cargo barges of early Kleppers and Folbots or with flimsy plastic novelties like Oru and TukTec. There are well designed and tough folders in the $4000 to $5000 range that can handle serious conditions. I’ve used my own Feathercraft Wisper on the Atlantic and Pacific coast and the Great Lakes (the model can be rolled). Other models of Feathercraft, like the Khatsalano and Heron, were quite high performance in open water.
Naturally, there is a risk with surfing of a bow plant at the break which could damage the skin-on-frame boat. But that can happen with a composite – I watched my friend fold his old school fiberglass whitewater kayak in half when a wave dumped it surfing at Kitty Hawk.
