Mossback, Solus's comments are right on the money. I started my paddling in racing canoes, so I lean that way. But again he's spot on about the boats.

What I liked about the Voyager vs Magic was the height of the gunnels combined with the tumblehome. It enabled me to wedge both knees under the gunnels to maintain more contact with the boat in rougher water. I straighten one leg to toe the footbrace and tilt my knee under the gunnel. I fold my other leg under and across with my foot wedged into the side, with it's knee under the opposite gunnel. I'm braced similar to how a kayaker would use the top deck to brace his knees, but both their legs would be straight. The Magic's gunnels were too low, or seat too high, plus my legs too tight to do the same in it.

I still grin in rough water or upstream in tricky currents. Confidence helps, don't paddle scared, you'll swim for sure. I'm not stupid, I did stay on shore last year on BH when the foam was pilling up knee deep on the rocks, solo tripping in Oct. TMI  :-X :o