jiM,

i AM SHORTER AND MY MC 16.5 IS IN CALIFORNIA, BUT i'LL THROW OUT SOME COMMENTS.  i USE MY MC PRIMARILY FOR ROWING, BUT i HAVE PADDLED IT WITH MY WIFE ON OCCASSION.  SHE IS NOT A SERIOUS PADDLER AND GENERALLY SITS WITH HER KNEES PULLED UP AND HER LEGS CROSSED.  AT 5'-7" I DO THINK SHE HAS ADEQUATE LEG ROOM UP FORWARD.  I AM 5'-10.  uP UNTIL LAST WEEK, i HAD MY SEAT MOUNTED WITH THE BACK ABOUT 3" FROM THE AFT BULKHEAD.  THIS HAS ALWAYS REQUIRED THAT MY FEET GO OUTBOARD OF MY WIFE'S SEAT TO GET TO THE PEGS.  THIS WEEKEND i TORE ALL THE SEAT MOUNTS OUT AND MOVED THINGS AROUND TO GET A BETTER ROWING POSITION.  iN THE PROCESS I MOVED THE AFT SEAT BACK ABOUT 3" WHICH IS GOING TO GIVE ME BETTER LEG ROOM.  THAT ALL SAID, YOU TWO HAVE SOME LONG LEGS BETWEEN YOU AND i CAN SAY THAT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF ROOM TO SPARE.  I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU FIND A BOAT TO DEMO BEFORE COMMITTING.  TAKE NOTE THAT THE SHEARWATER DOUBLE IS TWO FEET LONGER AND THE CHESSIE DOUBLE IS 4 1/2 FEET LONGER.  BOTH WOULD HAVE MORE ROOM AND PROBABLY PERFORM BETTER.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SEARCH.

PAUL

Paul

 Thank you so much for your thoughtful and insightful comments.  

 Hopefully there is a boat in Texas or Oklahoma or Louisiana that we could touch.

 Thanks again.

 Jim