I seriously considered not doing a trip this year due to a nagging shoulder problem I developed this summer. The idea of a tripless year was more than I could stand and Kingfisher was kind enough to loan me his Prism (Kevlar, Flex-Core I believe). I don't like too much change all at once so whey my RubberMaid foodpack fit so nicely and after a test paddle for the shoulder, I secured a Pickerel reservation and hoped for the best. (Thanks again! Much appreciated.)

My usual solo boat is actually a smallish tandem, Sawyer Cruiser ~56 pounds, 17'-9" 30.5" waterline max width. I love that boat and we've done probably two dozen or so solos together so I know it very well and I don't like changing things that work for me. Unfortunately that's the only boat I've ever soloed in for more than a day or a few minutes here and there so it's all I really have to compare the Prism to.

First, some general impressions on the Prism. What an incredibly stable boat! Stable almost the point of being boring IMO. I'm going to have to be careful the next time I use my (asls very stable) Cruiser. The thing that really impressed me though was how well it handled wind and waves. Coming around one particular windy point on Sturgeon, I paddled in the biggest rollers I've ever paddled intentionally. The tops of some of the larger swells would come straight over the bow yet that boat was so easy to control and make forward progress with I was truly amazed. I was never concerned for my safety in waves after that.

There was one aspect that has me confused though. With my own boat, I can paddle a straight line from either side all day long no problem any conditions. Same thing with the Prism but only in calm conditions (although it does wobble a bit with each stroke).

Here's what I don't get. Even in a little wind, from a medium chop on up, I ALWAYS had to switch after every few strokes. I had to. I could not paddle a freaken straight line from either side to save my life in any wind at all. (Never had any trailing wind so....) It didn't matter which direction the wind was coming from. I couldn't even keep it straight with the wind at a 90 degree angle to the canoe. With my own boat, It's takes some effort to get the nose into the wind from that angle. Prism, two strokes if need be.

I know these are two completely different boats and I only have a hundred or so miles of Prism experience but I just don't get it. Any insight on tracking in wind other Prism paddlers might be willing to share?

The other small thing was while the acceleration was a refreshing change, the deceleration of the Prism was conversely disappointing. I had read reviews that talked about it's glide. I was traveling lighter than I'm use to but still, glide is not a term I'd use to describe the paddling characteristics of the Prism. Seaworthy, defiantly. Glide, not so much. Tracking, yes and no.

FWIW - KF removed the pedestal seat and installed a fixed one at the farthest back position as I understand it. For calm seas I happened to have a handy makeshift backrest too. Between that and the foot brace, I felt like I was 16 again driving a HS girlfriend's dad's Vet. In wind I could sit up with a foot under the seat and lock myself in. It was a mighty nice setup for my taste.

In any case, as much as I don't get the yak paddle thing, in that particular canoe, I can kind-of understand the reasoning. I still don't like it but it seems reasonable for that boat.

I'd welcome thoughts and insights from solo type paddlers. I simply don't understand why I couldn't paddle a straight line in wind in that thing. At this point I'm thinking some weird aerodynamics of that extreme tumblehome..... Hit a wave wrong and you get a sheet of water over the side. DOH! I wasn't use to that either but all in all I did like the boat. If it were mine, I'd consider removing the back thwart and moving the seat back a few inches. All in all though , the Prism is indeed a darn nice canoe and a refreshing change IMO.

BTW - for all you cheap frugal soloers like me, if you can swing it, you might give a true solo boat some serious thought. It's one of a very few things hindsight has me wishing I'd have done ~20 years ago. It's kind-of nice not being windbound when even tandems with any common sense at all are hunkered down.

This is really my 3rd year in my Prism.  Last year I couldn't get over how well it handled in the wind, empty and/or level-loaded.  Jim J is right, however, re: its sensitivity re: placing of the load.  On Day 1, lake 1 in Woodland Caribou Park this past June, I was running bow-heavy downwind during a good-sized blow with heavy seas.  BIG MISTAKE.  It was all I could do to keep the Prism from turning broadside & getting creamed!  I managed to get down the lake, somehow, & KF helped me figure out my issue.  Believe me, I was very careful about correctly loading the vessel according to wind conditions from there on out.

Level-loaded or empty, the Prism seems to handle better going into the wind for me rather than going downwind.  Could be my seat placement, I suppose.  I haven't had so much of the problem that db describes re: not being able to paddle on one side.  I'll paddle on the left side of any canoe I've owned all day long; I've had no problem doing so in the Prism.

I also find the Prism to be exceptionally stable (secondary, not initial).  It's been very suitable for my fishing & load-hauling needs in all sorts of water conditions.

Such are my observations.

Jimbo  

Speed was fine. No great improvement but optimal cruising speed took less effort to hit.

One of my concerns with injecting the different boat into what's become a well oiled system was how my packs would fit. When I left Twin for a day of nearly portageless travel, the canoe was dean nuts level according to a bubble level set on the floor and everything was below the gunnels. I began noticing my tracking difficulties just after I put on my PFD for the top big part of Sturgeon. (I don't like wearing it but I didn't yet trust the boat.) Wind in my face or a bit to the left. Perfect, or so I thought. After my first real feel for how well it handled in a stiff breeze with a whitecap here and there, I just thought I d change the trim next time.

A few days later in in all whitecaps and big swells pushed up near shore I expect I was bow heavy since I was sitting basically midship on my camera case with my knees against the footbrace. I do the same paddle from the middle thing in rough water in the Sawyer. (The low seating is rather comfy actually.) I didn't mind the tracking at all as I picked and chose the smaller swells whenever possible. After the second or third one breaking over the bow it became a strangely beautiful thing making progress w/o fear. I baled some water out at ant island but the sponge took out the vast majority.

I have long arms so my usual stroke is vertical and/or ideally, blade under the boat and thumb down nearest the recovery. (bentshaft) I don't normally need to add much overt correction to my stroke but can when needed. Ruddering being the 8th deadly sin I always try to use weathervaneing whenever possible to eliminate continuous correction. That was the weird thing. That boat didn't weathervane as expected - ever. I know it's a smaller boat and all and took that into consideration but I had no problem pointing the bow into the wind whenever I wanted and unfortunatly when I didn't want to. That's the problem I had I guess. I couldn't use the wind to my advantage as I'd like.

FWIW - I'd say it had good initial stability. Totally empty, it really didn't move much. Loaded it barely moved at all IMHO. Overtly healing it to one side or the other didn't really help my straight line difficulties either. I didn't have a chance to test what I'd call secondary. I don't have much different boat experience but in comparison, I'll freely admit I'm simply afraid to get in my cruiser empty. I took it out empty on a sandy beach one day and tried to tip it. I tried hard and found me and waves basically couldn't w/o doing something drastically stupid. I still won't get in that thing empty even on glass unless I want to cool off. It's scary empty and way WAY more lively loaded than the Prism. I never got a chance to test out the Prism that well though. Camped near a perfect place for it but it was a windy day and I was alone - bum shoulder and out of shape (Hey, I'd bet I have enough fat to float naturally instead of sink like a rock) - some other time perhaps.

I don't know how to put this. Don't get me wrong. I really liked the Prism and it was easier to get from one place to another with. The calluses and thin skin on my hands as I type are proof of that. It was also wonderful to portage in comparison. I almost hate to say this 'cause it's probably not fair but it wasn't the joy to paddle that I've become accustomed to. I don't know, it just didn't have the grace I'm use to?

It did get me everywhere I wanted to go though so it's utilitarian aspects get a big thumbs up. What surprised me the most was knocking off a few inches on each end made it a whole lot more manageable than I'm used to on portages. What a difference 10 pounds and a few inches make!

Honestly, if it were  my boat, I consider removing/repositioning the beck thwart and moving the seat back a bit more. IMO the middle of a canoe is not where I want to plant my paddle. I know comparatively nothing though. Just thinking what if and looking for other observations..

Quote:


 I find this an interesting IF controversial view. Of course SR solo canoes which he solely distributes have their seat, just past center toward the stern. Still from my paddling a tandem from the front back wards, I can see that if I could move even a foot or so toward the "bow", it would really make a difference in handling especially into or sideways to a stiff wind.

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Well let me add my $.02. 
Tracking
I think your sawyer is a little longer making it track straighter. But I do not understand why it should take more correction in the prism than the sawyer. On second thought If the sawyer is wider do you tip it  toward the side you paddle on? Some boats turn a little when tipped.
Wind
Every solo except my robroy (almost a kayak) has been sensitive to where the weight is in wind.  Before I had a sliding seat I kept a pack in front of the canoe that I could move with the paddle.  Head into the wind and push it forward.  Get a tail wind and hook the pack with the paddle and pull it all the way back between my feet.
Seat position
With a slider seat I get to try a lot of positions.  It may not be the fastest position but on calm water I like the way the canoe handles with the stern a little heavy. 
Tripping solo boat size
The robroy is a little small and sometimes a hassle to get every thing in and out of. I am some times cramped with a pack between my legs.
The magic is probably a little to big.  It would be easier on the portages and probably faster on the water if there was not so much of it.  NO I will not sell either one.