Your correct, it is a beast, but its not without reason. The optimum length of single kayak is around 17 to 19’ feet. As a kayak gets longer, it is sits higher in the water, due to a greater area to displace the water. As it gets longer, it also has greater drag. This is why there is an optimal length. One factor weighs against the other.
Most all double kayaks are not long enough for optimum efficiency due to the extra weight of the 2nd person. They are usually in the 19 to 21 foot range. The increased power provided by the extra person makes up for the decrease in efficiency due to it sitting to low in the water. Having it 24 feet, makes it sit a little higher, and therefore faster.
Yes it is longer than 7 meters. 7.38 to be exact. It weights about 120 lbs so two people is no problem for car top loading. It can be a challenge for one person, but I have managed it a few times.
Like all high performance kayaks it tips easy and you have to develop balance. The balance part comes fast. I have taken it through high surf and out to oilrigs from 1½ to 4 miles before.
To get on it from the water you have to put a hand on each side rail and evenly distribute your weight as you push up and swing your legs and butt on it. This basically means you have to be able to do a bar dip. This shouldn’t be a problem for most freedivers and I have seen in shape women do it before too. I have held it in the water and allowed women to craw on to it. Once they were on I would then mount. (okay, I expect some one to make joke about this!)
I have put two children and two adults on it several times, inshore, and had a lot of fun, so it kind of doubles as a family boat and a offshore boat. The one thing you don’t want to do is take someone who has never kayaked before offshore. It doesn’t matter how much balance you have if they have none they will tip you over. I literally drug a guy the last mile coming in who totally lost his balance and confidence. Confidence is a big part of balance and when it goes, so does balance. It is possible to teach someone how to kayak and get the balance needed for offshore, quickly, if you do it in protected waters.
Don