kypaddler wrote on May 3^rd, 2011 at 12:49pm:

But my question about canoe placement is this: Adhering to the theory of power in front and steady control in back, doesn't the weight differential typically pose a challenge? I'm 205, my wife is 135. Hypothetically speaking, if she did like to canoe and had skills with a Bending Branch, how could we possibly put her in the back? Is this a problem for anyone else? -- kypaddler

Yes it can be a problem but typically a canoe trip includes a few packs that can be loaded stern heavy. Obviously it's a big advantage to have less of a weight difference. My wife and I used to have an 85 lb weight difference and it became a problem. I decided to do something about it and we now have a 35 lb weight difference and I got stronger too. No I didn't fatten her up.