Alex Horvath wrote:
Peter,

I have a kayak book (I think it's Derek Hutchinson's) which states
that there is really no reason to use a narrow kayak for touring. He
implied that the risk of capsize is too great and self rescue
techniques are only reliable in calm protected waters. I think he
defines narrow as less than 23".

I've paddled with Derek and all he did was criticize the low stability
of the boat I was in at the time...a Nordkapp. At the time, the boat did
feel pretty unstable to me. These days, it would feel like a couch. I no
longer own a single boat that's as stable as the Nordkapp was, yet I
find my boats to be more that stable enough to be comfortable.

With all due respect, Derek likes wide, stable boats because that's what
he fits in. It kind of makes one wonder if he ever even paddled his
latest design, the Andromeda. I guess he must have greased his hips and
left the seat out. ;-)

I do agree with him that it's important to be able to relax in the boat
you're paddling (at least for a touring boat), as it's more fun and you
don't waste energy fighting to stay upright. However, that comfort point
varies from person to person and also with time in a given boat. As was
my case with the Nordkapp, what felt positively scary initially
eventually became very comfortable.

The guy on the Caske site says the same thing. Apparently he was
paddling a wide folding boat whereas his partner (who was quite
experienced I gathered) was paddling a performance fiberglass craft
and in rough seas the latter regularly capsized, even to the point of
exhaustion.

That sounds like a matter of paddler skill. "Experienced" doesn't mean
that he could handle the boat he was in, which obviously he couldn't. I
know people who have been paddling for decades and still have very
little paddling skill. This is especially true of those who spent all of
their time in wide, stable boats.

On the other hand people regularly take the high performance craft on
expeditions in rough seas. One example is the Nordkapp which in
experienced hands is supposed to be one of the most sea worthy kayaks.
I guess NDK would claim that in rough seas the wider kayak tends to
tilt on the face of a wave whereas the Nordkapp would remain more
upright.

That's correct. FYI, the Nordkapp is made by VCP, not NDK shudder.

Perhaps it just boils down to experience level.

Actually, it boils down to "skill" level.

What do you think
about this issue? I did not read the articles/info on your website in
great detail but apparently the speed difference between these boats
is not that great. If this is true, than can narrow kayaks be
considered as seaworthy or even more so than wider kayaks?

Absolutely, though that is largely dependent on the person paddling them.