We own both the 14S and 14L along with 4 full sized sea kayaks ranging from 16' to 18' and love the Alchemys for what they are. I'll agree that the 14S is a wet ride but not any more than my 16'9" CD Cypress or the Tempest 165 we used to own. No, they are not all that fast but are loads of fun to paddle and great for new paddlers to try out.
I'm 190 pounds and get a wet ride with mine. That doesn't bother me and I love this little kayak for playing around. A great alternative to a full blown sea kayak.
