Might want to do some online searches for a used Venture Easky 15 LV. I’ve had one for 15 years and it ticks all your boxes and is definitely not as barge-y or boring as a Tsunami or Conduit. Venture is actually a division of P & H so it shares heritage with the Delphin 15 – they were made in the UK and build quality is quite nice for a rotomold kayak.
It’s a shame they discontinued the Easky about 6 or 7 years ago (replacing it with the chubbier, shorter and heavier Islay 14) because the Easky’s a very versatile kayak. I have paddled it in the coastal Atlantic, the Great Lakes and many rivers including the upper Hudson, Susquehanna, Allegheny, Monongahela, lower Youghiogheny and even some twisty rocky moderate Class 1 and 2 streams in PA like Red Bank and the Black Moshannon.
Perfect for your size being low volume and weighs around 45 lbs, so easy to load and transport, Nicely outfitted with a comfortable seat with convertible back that folds down to become a backband or up for lounging on a slow float or fishing. Tracks well, very nimble with the hard chines, 21" beam and semi-Greenland shape. It can even be Greenland rolled, though it has great secondary stability and is not easily capsized.
Has nice details like the paddle retainer bungee and hook along the gunwale and a steel bar for a security cable molded into the deck. Adequate amount of cargo room in the bow and stern hatches – mine have always stayed dry. Most Easkys came with a skeg – mine did not but I have never felt I needed it – it does have the molded in pin socket and all the openings for cabling in a rudder if I wanted to add one.
It’s one of the 15 or so touring kayaks I have owned over the past 22 years and the only one I would never give up. I have kayaks that are lighter, some that are faster, some with more cargo capacity – but none has the overall versatility and ruggedness – in fact it is the only rotomold kayak that I have kept over the years (the others in my fleet are composite or skin on frame) – I passed the other poly boats along to others because they were heavier and not as fun to paddle.
I have kept an eye out for Easkys on the resale market over the years since many of the friends and family to whom I have loaned mine really enjoy the comfort and agility of the model and several have bought them since. They usually show up once or twice year here in the Northeast for between $500 and $750.
Another one, if you can find it (a really rare bird) would be the Perception rotomold version of the 15.5’ Avatar they produced in the early 2000’s. I have its sister boat, a 2004 vintage composite Avatar 16 that is a completely sweet skegged boat, also lower volume and with Greenland lines. They are scarce – never seen one on the used market but you never know what might turn up. If I ever found one I might be tempted – it would be nice to have a plastic version of the Avatar that I didn’t have to worry about scratching up like the fiberglass one.
ADDED: I just ran a Facebook Marketplace search within 500 miles of where I live (Pittsburgh PA) and no less than 4 Easkys turned up for sale! Ranged from $300 in Spotsylvania, VA, (missing a hatch and seat) to one in Arlington, MA for $900 including a paddle, Astral v8 PFD and all the safety gear.
Also a, Venture Skye, which was the Easky predecessor, in Hudson Falls, NY for $400. A bit longer at 17’ but more cargo room.
