Lightning 17

The Lightning 17 is a great all-round boat. She’s fast and can carry lots of gear. A good choice for people from 5’3” to 6’3” Max. load 340 lbs. wearing men’s shoe size to 12. It tracks well and turns where you want when you want with a waterline at 197”. The Lightning 17 handles very nicely. I find it easy to get up to speed and hold it for long periods of time. I have a tendancy to really dig in and lean when I make a fast turn. This kayak allowed me to lean over at a crazy angle at which point it stopped me from rolling without intending to roll. I took it out one day in 50 mph winds and was able to hold it steady. It responded to my efforts to go where I wanted to despite the strong winds. It was a lot of work but I didn't wallow. It has a beam of 24-inches so has lots of room in the cockpit. It has good primary stablity with better secondary stability. The bow has a tendancy to bury in waves due to the sharp keel but it comes up quickly in response. I switched to 1/2" rubber weather stripping to get a watertight seal on the hatches, so now I have suction when Ineed to remove the hatches. The rear hatch is larger than the front hatch so larger bags can be stowed in the rear. The seat is a tractor-style design that has provided me with very adequate comfort for hours of continuous paddling. I used two layers of closed-cell foam to ensure my seat and back were very comfortable. The foot pegs are nothing to dream about. They are basic adjustable pegs on a rail that have served me well and without difficulties. I've used my Lightning 17 to paddle 940 kms across Western Canada with no problems at all. I plan on using it for another 5000 kms throughout some of Canada's more remote waters: I trust it.