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Boundary Waters / Quetico Discussion Forums >> Strictly Gear - Gear specific reviews and ideas. >> Best Solo Canoe
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Message started by gfy_paddler on Feb 22nd, 2010 at 5:21pm

Title: Re: Best Solo Canoe
Post by Snow_Dog on Feb 23rd, 2010 at 2:34pm
Also keep in mind the tradeoff between bow/stern height in how they relate to wind and waves.  

Lower bow and stern catch less wind, making them easier to paddle when the wind is up.  However, a higher bow and stern can handle bigger waves without taking on water.  Somewhat related is the amount of flare on the bow.  More flare = less likely to take on water, regardless of bow height.

The Prism has a higher bow/stern than the Bell solos, and I know soloists who have mentioned Prisms can be tricky to control in the wind.  Bells, OTOH, don't get pushed around by the wind so much (I have heard), but you have less margin for error in big waves.  Again, it will come down to personal preference.

I'm looking seriously at buying a Bell Magic because I trust my ability to "read" waves and compensate for them by angle of attack more than I trust my ability to hold the proper line when the wind wants to push my canoe off-line.  So that's where I fall on this particular tradeoff.  You may feel entirely differently.

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