I faced the same choice last summer after a black seabass kicked my butt and I had to paddle back with my arms spasming. I kept my Trident 15, mainly for surf launch/landings. I bought a used PA14. I decided on the PA14 for the following reasons:
- Potential to take one of my kids with me
- Added stability
- Rod storage in rails
- Nice wide hooping platform
- More stable in case my wife wants to do a bay run, with me in a paddle yak (selling it as a cross-training platform for her triathlon training helped with approval on the purchase
)
- There was one available at a good price
Now, I am lucky enough to be able to have different kayaks for different applications. I have the PA for ramp or harbor launches, the Trident for surf launches and a Scrambler to throw on top of my commuter car when I anticipate being able to cut out of work early and hit Huntington Harbor for a few hours with the bare minimum tray of plastics and 2 rods.
That said, the PA is a beast. I was putting it on top of my SUV, using a couple carpeted 2x4s as runners to help get it there. It was still unwieldy for someone 5'11 and a scrawny 150#. So I bought a used jetski trailer and adapted it for the PA. Much, much easier loading it on there than trying to put it on top of the SUV after a day on the water. But, the PA on a trailer has a bigger footprint than the PA alone. So you will need somewhere to be able to park it.
No real advice, just insight into my decision process