I cannot speak to the Mersanger. I have a Patuxent 19.5. It is very quick in a staight line, doesn't turn well. Poor initial stability, but good secondary. It's pretty and tracks well.

On the negative side, it's way too delicate. I will never build another boat with an unglassed deck. Furthermore, the hull glass is very light weight as well. It took very little time for me to punch a small hole in it. My Pygmy Osprey has absorbed ten times the abuse with nary a protest. The shorter Patuxent is probably a better all-around boat, as the long one is primarily designed with racing in mind, but I'd be very carefull with the durability issue. Building a boat takes too much work to have a boat that won't hold together.

> I think my SO has finally settled on either a Patuxent 17 by CLC or
> Mersanger 17 from Shearwater boats. Either would be a plans construction.

> Any final words of wisdom on performance for me to pass along to her? I
> realize they are totally different boats.

> Her wants are a boat capable of ocean going. Doesn't seem to worry about
> initial stability, shes already pretty experienced in a yak, and wants to
> be able to camp from the yak.

> Thanks,

> Pete albany, NY

> Ps. I almost have my Ross Leidy style yak cradles done for my thule roof
> rack. The cradles are all laminated already (5 layers of 1/16"
> steambent birch ply laid around a form similar to his) and are covered on
> both sides with 10 oz glass. I still have to mount the blocks to hold the
> cradles to the rack rails and drill and mount the attachment screws.