my own preference
Posted by: willowleaf
on Sep-16-12 1:32 AM (EST)
Having owned 10 solo kayaks from 9' to 18' (and every length in between) I can state that the two I use and like the best (and find most versatile) are both around 15' long and 22" wide. Nice balance of speed and maneuverability in everything from rough lake and coastal waters to flat rivers and lakes and even up to mild Class II streams. I can keep up with any of my paddling buddies in longer boats and have a lot of fun on my own.