The Hide will absolutely amaze you in open rough water! This boat can really hold its' own! We always advise that you use common sense in regards to watching the weather /wind and choose your routes wisely. Also, if you are in consistent rough water 2-4ft seas all the time, this is not the boat for you. But if you occasionally get caught in rougher seas, the Hide is a very stable platform that takes rough water better than any flat boat we have built or seen in the past.