A couple things:
1) The <Duck native to the West Coast of North America> is probably relatively fast, and will be nice and light, but in some senses, it will be very little joy to paddle. From what I gather, it tracks like it's on rails. So adios to manueverability. But my hope is that it will be just the ticket for nasty following or quartering seas after being out all day.
2) I don't really know why kayak fishermen are so obsessed with a dry ride. It is kind of a drag to sit in a wetsuit that's in a puddle, but I'm used to it from WW rafting/WW kayaking/surf zone play in a SIK etc... And north of Point Conception, it really is a good idea to wear some sort of wetsuit year round. I'm not saying that it's mandatory, but it is a good idea.
3) I don't buy into the whole "SOT's are safer" idea. If they were, then why are the Brits in the North Sea and the class VI WW boaters all in SIK's ? I'm going SOT for fishing, because SOT's are hands down a better fishing platform. End of story. I'm giving up paddling capability, and "real" safety in order to gain ease of access to the storage areas while on the water, and the ability to sit sideways. Real safety to me means speed and control, not the ability to get back on a boat.
As for the gunwhales on the <Duck etc...>, I doubt that I'll beef them up any more than they are. <Short African> uses the same thickness and fiber glass build schedule on their <Fish Hawk> and <Species of Salmon> and they are not two panel designs. I will be doing some sort of framing under the cockpit much like the Sabalo though. I always say it's a good idea to copy the good ideas
Anyway, I'll really keep an eye on goings on here. If Matt does go for an even more high performance SOT, I'll be sure to recommend it to people.
Regards,
Scott