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Some of what I have read suggests having minimal weight in the bow so it will rise over the waves in a headwind, taking on less water?

I can't speak for your canoe but in that tandem paddling solo if the bow is light, in a headwind it wanders all over the place. Bow heavy it tracks true and just slices thru the waves. In your true solo that might not be the case as Solus points out.

Solus being a true solo paddler and having paddled many solo canoes would know how critical the hull shape is.