Unstable at rest is going to mean different things to different people. A mate of mine has a 17C that I have spent a fair bit of time in - well and truly better than the tinnie I had at the time for ride and stability. Certainly a great hull for their size and no habits bad enough that I wouldn't own one. Main limitation is cockpit room and free board over the transom - with 3 blokes fishing from the cockpit it is both cuddly and potentially wet in any sort of swell - specially with a sea anchor out (being powered at maximum horsepower could have something to do with this as well - goes like the clappers with 140 ponies though)