I purhcased this kayak new in August 2004, and used it often on lakes and flatwater. This boat is in excellent condition. I wanted a boat that was suitable for a variety of water-types in Texas - lakes, flat rivers, class I-II, ocean, etc, and felt this was the best combination. The length (12') is very maneuverable, and Prijon's high performance thermoplastic is extremely durable and very light-weight. The tri-hedral hull causes the boat to plan on top of the water, causing less friction, and making it as fast as most 17' sea kayaks.