The Expedition is the "straight tracking" design of the Guillemot line, but like many of my boats it is still relatively loose. Actually, I like to use the word "responsive" instead of "loose". I find it well balanced in most conditions, but it may take some getting used to.

One person trying my Expedition said "it always turns to the right when I stop paddling." I asked him to do his last stroke on the other side and see which way it turned. Sure enough it turned the other way. I know this bothers some people. Many boats will keep going straight if you stop paddling and if that is what you are used to the tendancy to turn may be annoying.

However, with a very slight lean you can make the boat do what you want. I recommend trying to live with it for a while. Experiment with leans and work on you steering strokes. If it still bothers you, install a retractable skeg. The people who have done this seem to eventually stop using the skeg, but it does give an added dimension of control. A rudder is a last resort, I think a skeg will do everything you want from a rudder.
: I recently finished a Guillemot Expedition and love the way it paddles so
: far. My question for Nick, others who might have the same model, or some
: knowledge about handling issues is, this boat seems "loose" or
: lacking in tracking. I have not loaded the boat with an expedition size
: load yet, and that may be the cause of some of the looseness. I weigh 220
: and probable tip the scales at 240 with all my paddling gear loaded up.
: Should I load some ballast for day trips if that seems to solve the
: tracking issues? Should I put a rudder on the beast? I like the look of
: One Ocean's setup--and I already have the Yakima footbraces. What
: complicates the issue is I want to install a guzzler foot pump that I have
: already bought. Any solutions to tracking, steering a rudder, and using a
: foot pump?