- Your stability will improve over time. It’s the trade-off if you want to start increasing speed. Stay on it and it will come to you.
- As said above, if you’re a light paddler–you will likely be less stable in a catch-all weight boat.
- Despite what you’ve said, I’d definitely recommend a surfski. Unless you have a bombproof roll, the surfski will give you more confidence in daunting conditions. What are your other reasons to stay with a sit inside? If you need a tougher boat–several brands have river layups, club layups and plastic models. If you like to have storage space, many have bulkheads or one can be put in for a reasonable price. For the most part, a ski can do most of what sea kayak can do but will also allow you better use of your legs and whole body when paddling. The ergonomics are set up for speed. Finding a Fast Sea Kayak is kind of like finding a racing RV–they are just not designed for it–with the exception of a few here and there.
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Medawgone already chimed in for me. It would not be a fsk rated kayak but for your build the Impex Force 3 would be fast and capable of lots of conditions.
I have that consignment F3 on FB Marketplace.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2306372119444365/
For the FSK category that length will need to grow by 8”+ at that width to put you in the class but depending on the design it may lose some play potential. All designs have their pros/cons.
See you on the water,
Marshall
The River Connection, Inc.
9 W. Market St.
Hyde Park, NY. 12538
845-229-0595 main
845-242-4731 mobile
Main: www.the-river-connection.com
Store: www.the-river-connection.us
Facebook: fb.me/theriverconnection
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Very nice boat (Impex 3). I would suggest that anyone buying it should learn to bow rudder if they don’t know how already.
Rockpool Tarantella might be the kayak for you. I know this post is 5 years later lol
Not as “modern” as the Epic line but these may do the job for you.
https://www.rebelkayaks.com/product/illka/
16 feet 4-1/5" inches long. 20 inches wide. For small paddlers up to about 150 pounds
https://www.rebelkayaks.com/product/naja/
16 feet 7" long. 18.5" wide. Small cockpit. made for small paddlers.
I’m always surpised when I read these posts here about unstable or tippy boats because once you’ve pushed on, it’s not an issue
It’s like developing your seat on a horse, you just have to do it.
I’m in a 20 inch beam and just rocked back and forth until I found my center of gravity. I’m not that experienced or that great of a paddler.
I’m curious if these people talking about tippy boats ski or ride or what other activities they have done / do?
It’s like saying you need fatter wheels on your roller blades. I guess I don’t get it.
I could be very wrong 
don’t mean to sound arrogant but finding your center should be easier than buying another boat.
People seem to get too fixated on their gear IMO.
Having said that, I changed boats because I found rolling a CV Solstice difficult on my shoulders.
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I understand your point and agree. My first kayak experience was while canoeing a local river that was mostly meandering flat water with a few class 2 and one class three when the flow was high. I was with one brother in an aluminum canoe (those were the days)! Another brother accompanied us in his stubby whitewater kayak. Back then, we had PFDs with us in the canoe that we strapped on when we approached fast moving water, mainly so we wouldn’t have to chase another thing if we failed to stay upright. A bit wiser now, but of course my brother had a suitable kayaking PFD, not one of the slip over your head variety that cost $3.95.
While on a rest break in an pool that was about chest deep, my brother coaxed me to try it. So I jumped in it without any coaching, which is how kids do things. I remember thinking as I wormed my way into the cockpit, that it reminded me of an article about spelunking.
The water was shallow, so I didn’t bother with a PFD. It felt like paddling a beach ball, or more accurately, an egg with a tiny hole in it. It rolled and I remember looking at curious upside down fishes. I couldn’t get out, and because I didn’t know to tuck once I rolled back up, the boat felt like being trapped in a revolving door. I wanted to figure the roll, but every successful resurfacing ended up continuing 360°. Itvwas eastbto get my head out of the water, so Intook a breath and went back under to think about the process. I can probably hold my bresth for about 30 to 45 seconds, so I spent that time thinking about the dynsmics of the kayak roll. That didn’t help. Based on the number of unsuccessful rolls, and catching my breath, the ordeal lasted at least three to five minutes. I later wondered why my brothers didn’t come to my aid, because while recounting the event to mother Jyak, they thought my efforts were death thre no fesroes.
From that point on, the adventure represented kayaking too me and it wasn’t appealing. Years later, I bought several canoes to go out with my kids. Dick has a portable pool their parking lot for boat demos. I tested the 9 ft Swifty and thought it would be great if we didn’t have doubles for the canoe. From that day on, I formed the opinion that I would only invest in boats that could stay upright, and I held to that standard ever since. I have no fear of water or rolling. My criteria is simply a boat that stays upright. Similarly, I enjoy vegetables, but also find pleasure in occasionally eating them after they are processed into meat. All the better when it has been ground.
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I had this very chubby neighbor that begged me to kayak and I really wanted her to enjoy it and get in to
So I stuffed her in my husbands Solstice and had the good sense to leave the skirt off. I kept her close to shore and she wore a PFD but I was terrified about how she would get out if she turned over. I keep the picture as a reminder of how stupid I can be.
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What would it hurt. Rolling over in a kayak isn’t the end of the world. As Steven explains, the PFD actually allows you to float on the side. I had no problems getting back up in the kayak, even without a PFD. I just didn’t know how to stay upright once I got there, and the infernal boat wouldn’t track straight without a keel. All a sea kayaker has to remember is to not panic. I want to paddle and go somewhere, not fight to stay upright. The conditions I face aren’t severe enough for me to need anything more than a stable boat. My sister can’t swim and she has been in the same conditions with me. She actually manages better because her weight class is better suited for her boat, while I slightly overloaded mine at the time.
Many kayakers are looking for boat that turns. I look for one that goes straight. All I have to do is paddle 10 miles and make one 180° turn. Even on my test course, I make two 90° turns and one 180° turn.
I remember one guy who put in regularly at the same launch. He’d go out a mile in a $3,200 kayak and a $120 paddle, then roll like a seal doing tricks for a fish treat. He may have been practicing for an ocean expedition, as far as I know. I had a $1,200 tub with a $500 paddle, and I spent my time crossing the 10.5 mile bay. I never saw him go further than a mile. We both had fun, but he was a better kayaker than me.
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Rolling for a fish treat
Ahhh these posts cheer me 
up
I call it for what cones to mind. He was a gregarious chap and a bit eccentric. Neatly manicure and unhurried with the demeanor of an English gentleman. But he sure could roll that kayak.
People swim in the bay, but I don’t like putting my hands in it.
I admire some of those pristine lakes you guys paddle. When I was a kid, my father took us crabbing on the eastern shore of the bay. The wster was clear to 6 ft as measured with the oar. You could see crabs feeding on the bait. It is clear like that still at the head of the bay. Thick seaweed hampers boat traffic, so nothing churns it. Power boats do more damage than they realize. Impact would be less if they horsed around in deep waters.
Interesting news is my daughter was in Williamsburg and while riding the Jamestown Ferry, they saw a pod of bottle nose (?) dolphins in the James River.
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If only they were not so cold I would practice more.
Five or ten pounds of ballast make a huge difference. Probably by for you. I got my Current Design Expedition and it was tippy compared to my CD Extremes. I put in 10 pounds and it felt like my Solstice.
I gradually dumped a little sand out of the bag every few trips. You gain confidence that way. It doesn’t slow the hull much it’s hardly perceivable.
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