My first boat was a purple Probe 14. I still have it and use it on occasion, when taking friend out that is new to the sport. It has been a very durable old royalex boat and Mohawk was good to work with.
Over the years, I have went from the Probe 14 to the Ocoee to the Skeeter to my current boat a Taureau set up as a C1.
The Taureau is a fun, durable boat to paddle. I am glad Esquif made the boat and that I bought one. It seems light, responsive, and punches through holes (most of the time

. The flare in the ends keeps you from digging in waves and from hitting the stern too. This type of short boat allows me to extend my paddling season in to lower water, where you would destroy a royalex boat in no time.
Now the bad news, the seam on the side is clunky and the boat seems a little top heavy. I realize the Taureau was not supposed to be a C1. However, the height of the boat seem a little tall, especially when you add the skirt combing to make it a C1.
The Taureau outfitting is also cheesy. The foam is soft, the bulk head came unglued from the boat in no time with warm/cold temperature changes, and the Yakima foot braces were installed with no plastic on the side of the saddle to avoid them from pushing right through the saddle.
My biggest disappointment in the Taureau is rolling it. I admit I am not a great roller, but this boat seams much harder to roll in comparison to my Skeeter or Ocoee. Maybe, it is the nature of the beast, smaller boat?
The Spanish fly is obviously in demand. And I know some people only want to only paddle an open boat, but lets face it that boat does not look like a traditional open boat, or a C1. It is a goofy looking thing that performs really well.
So if you want a plastic durable traditional open boat you have the Prelude. If you want a hybrid you have the Fly and Taureau. If you want a C1, you get a kayak or Taureau and convert it.
I personally would like to see a lighter weight C1 creeker, 8' to 9' out of PE or durable plastic with at least a 7.5" saddle height that is a little faster and easier to roll then the Taureau. And yes, I would buy one!
Good luck in your business and thanks for asking the boating community what they would like to see in future boat designs.