"I recently paddled the Seaward Guide 17 on a 10 day expedition around Nootka Sound. The Guide 17 performed very well in every condition that was thrown at it. This trip required a boat with ample carrying capacity, is built strong, and performed well in a variety of conditions.

Carrying Capacity: on this trip, we brought camera gear, audio gear, and everything required to successfully camp on the West Coast of Canada in the fall. Every little bit of the 199 litre carrying capacity of the Guide 17 was utilized. Thanks to the oval bow and a stern hatch, gear was always easy to stow away and access. The rubber hatch covers were air tight and easy to remove, even with cold fingers, which was particularly important when accessing the massive 42 litre day hatch.

Performance: while loaded, the Guide 17 was a pleasure to paddle, moving effortlessly through the water and seamlessly transitioning between primary and secondary stability. This boat felt right at home on an edge, allowing me to hug rock walls and enjoy the intricacies of the intertidal zone knowing that I could maneuvre safely around almost any obstacle. On our last day, we were pushed from Yuquot (Friendly Cove) back to cougar creek by 20 knots of wind and a 2.5 meter swell. In a following sea the Guide 17 did not disappoint. Weather cocking was minimal and the Guide 17 responded beautifully to a slight edge and a stern rudder. The minimal weather cocking and maneuverability allowed me to enjoy the appearance of a large female Humpback whale that was feeding about 100 meters in front of us.

Build: It became obvious very quickly that the Seaward Guide 17 was built very well. The bulk heads, foot pedals, and cockpit combing were all very reliable, functional, and strong. At 59 lbs, the Shadow is a little bit on the heavier side. Upon closer inspection it became very obvious where that extra weight came from. Seaward had reinforced areas of high wear on top of the already very strong fiberglass. Knowing that I had a boat that could stand up to rocky beach landings and dumping surf gave me a great deal of comfort.

Overall I couldn’t be happier with this boat. Thanks so much to Steve and the team at Seaward kayaks for supporting the Sons of the Sea Expeditions, and meticulously crafting great boats and to JF from Skills and for providing additional design consulting. This is a fantastic kayak! " ~ Randy Vanderhaeghe

"After a winter paddling around the pool I was excited to get out and really take my new Guide for a good run. Last weekend I drove over to Saltspring and departed from Long Harbour, I paddled over to Prevost and did a circum-nav of the island, then back over to SS. It took about 5 hours and the boat was magnificent!! It tracked amazing, everything worked awesome, and I was super comfortable the whole time...I only got out of it once all day just to stop for lunch. The XLC was definitely the way to go and the compass mount worked great, tested out a bit of navving with it and it was perfect. I m getting better at rolling the boat and have started using a carbon fibre Greenland style paddle from GearLab, which I really like. Thanks again for everything you did to make this dream come true for me! I love the boat and hopefully this year we can get heather into one too!" ~ Jesse Challoner

"Just got back from 4 days of paddling the Guide 17 in the Gulf Islands. Man, it is sweet! So much cargo space! It really swallowed my gear well. I also really enjoyed the deck pod - it's huge! I don't think I'll ever carry snacks in my PFD again. It paddles really well, was fun in current, and is comfy for long sessions in the cockpit. Thank you for creating this kayak!" ~ Duncan Mac

"Trust. I believe I gave my Guide 17 a good test this summer, 2018. I went 677 nautical miles (1255 km) in a 58 day circumnavigation of Vancouver Island. I found I could trust this boat to be a solid performer. It was stable in challenging waters, sleek in the calm waters, and fun in the surf. I could almost feel the boat get excited as the tail lifted with a wave; she loves to surf! My Guide had a skeg and no rudder. I was used to a rockered boat and found she tracked quite well. But in the end I agreed that a rudder would improve the tracking, and I had one installed after the trip was over. Like any skeg, it did get jammed, with small rocks at times. I just checked the skeg before I left shore and easily cleared the rocks. We paddled in some big seas - a 2-3 metre swell and 2 foot chop around Cape Scott. Even in that big following sea I was able to maintain a steady bearing and always felt under control. In the fog off Brooks Peninsula, my Guide proved itself again. I was caught in a breaking wave, side surfed, but lost my edge and capsized. I easily rolled back up! I had found rolling this boat easy in a pool and was SO happy to have been able to roll a fully loaded boat in the ocean. And I am a small person (5'2"). My Guide is a low volume version but it still carries a large load. And it packs easily. The rear day hatch with bulkhead gave ready access for carrying the daily lunch and small items that usually get lost in big compartments. With everything inside, my deck was uncluttered..... I even had room for a ukulele! I would gladly recommend the Guide 17, it is solid and fun to paddle. Ask me if you have any questions. The folks at Seaward worked hard to address my quirky desires for my boat! Thanks to them for building me a boat that fits me well, is comfortable for long paddles, and is playful while being stable. " ~ Marg Rees

"We had a fabulous paddle in the new boat we picked up from you 10-days ago. In your shop I was mentioning that I couldn’t find any online info or reviews so, we made a short little video review during our journey and posted it to YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF-HZzJUDJc Feel free to utilize if you wish. Thanks for making a great boat. " ~ Brandon Torres

"Steve and everyone at Seaward- thanks for the super boat- the Guide 17. I received my custom Guide 17 ahead of schedule and immediately took it on a trip where I ran the Guide 17 through its paces on a Coastal Paddle departing Vancouver Island, crossing the Straight of Juan de Fuca, rounding Cape Flattery, and down Washington and Oregon state from June 3rd to 21st. On the paddle the conditions encountered were extreme and regularly included 10-20 kts winds, large clapitos waves, strong currents, ocean swell from 2-4 meters, surf ranging from a few feet to over 15 feet, sand landings, hauling the boat onto docks, rocky landings, two person carries of fully loaded boats, and much more. In the rough conditions it was as sure footed as a mountain goat, handled predictably, was responsive to edging, my paddle strokes, and always felt under control and stable. Even in the roughest conditions I didn’t feel twitchy or nervous. The Guide 17 easily moved through, and in, rough conditions. I found I could turn and maneuver it well and there were times we were in very dynamic and confused water and the Guide 17 handled them with ease, increasing my confidence. The boat had great handling characteristics and taking the time to fine tune the fit to me made it more so as it was an extension of my body on the water. I have run the Guide 17 through some extreme conditions and am impressed with the boat, its performance and the quality of its build. I also can’t say enough about the service I have received from Seaward Kayaks, the pride in their boats is shown in the attention to detail and the quality of the build. Simply put, I find Seaward stands behind their boats and offers exceptional customer service. I will continue to use the Guide 17 as a go to boat using it for my future trips, day paddling, instruction, and a boat I would be confident putting a new paddler in allowing them to feel comfortable, stable, and still have excellent control and maneuverability. " ~ Larry Chomyn