Okay, I know that you can't compare apples to oranges, but given that IN GENERAL, boats that are narrower in relation to their length are less stable than those which are wider in relation to their length, do you think a narrow boat is reasonable for a beginner to grow into, or will it more likely be endlessly frustrating?

I'm a beginner, but want to build a boat that will keep me happy for years to come as I improve my skills. I have a wife and four kids who will likely take to this sport as well, so it'll probably be a while before I can build another boat for myself, so I only get to pick one to for myself to use for a few years. I am 6'0 and 165 (or so) pounds (honestly, 185 now, but I'm determined to get back to 165!!! - and I will!) I want to use the boat for a lot of day-paddling on a small lake before work, some light day-tripping and camping, and would like to have storage enough for a week-long trip in the wilderness. (It may be YEARS before I get to do that, but it's just the principle of the thing, okay?) I like the idea of a faster boat over a slower one, although it's pretty unlikely I'll ever race it. (I prefer a racing bike over a hybrid or mountain bike, even though I never race it.) And I like the multi-chine hulls, if only for appearance. The boats I've looked at (on paper) are around 18' long, and 21" to 23.5" wide. Now, I can deal with a learning curve. I want to learn to roll anyway, so I may as well start right away, out of necessity. But before long, I want to be able to relax a little, put down the paddle, take a picture or two, and still stay upright. Does this sound reasonable for the kinds of boats I'm talking about, or am I fooling myself?