Thank you, everyody.  I will take all of these suggestions into account.  I think the suggestions about moving my seat back, being smarter about balancing my cargo, and maybe getting a bent shaft longer paddle may solve my problems. 

I do like the Prism and I will compare it to the Bell models discussed.   I knew there was something I was missing!  Thanks gang.

I have a Bell Magic and I have traveled deep into Quetico, using both a kayak paddle and a bent shaft canoe paddle. As others have mentioned, load distribution is an essential part of efficient performance. (Ever try to paddle an unloaded tandem solo while sitting in the stern?   ) If you use a kayak paddle, it needs to be longer than what you would normally use in a kayak. Otherwise you will quickly get frustrated. The more I paddle the Magic, the more comfortable I am with it. Its been almost four years now & I am strongly attached to "Louise".
I also tested a Prism and was very impressed. I was torn between the two, and I'm sure I would have been equally happy with the Prism. Like anything else, IMO, it is a matter of learning the proper skills sets and getting into a comfort zone. After years of paddling tandem, I now much prefer going solo. I'm guessing that is true of a lot of people.
Enjoy that Prism; it's a great boat!  
Wif

As a solo paddler who uses a tandem rental as his "solo", the comments about weight distribution are dead spot on.
Weight distribution is important even in a tandem, but it's critical in a solo.
 Paddling "backward" in the tandem, I have both packs, gear and food as far forward as possible. I start with the heavy food pack nearest bow, and swap out as it gets lighter later in the trip.

You want bow heavy into the wind, stern heavy with a trailing breeze.
I've found that I can slide packs to achieve that, but in narrower true solo, that might not be possible.

I think sometimes it's difficult to judge if your set -up properly especially if your in calm water sans wind. As the wind picks-up, you find yourself working way harder than you want and in some cases at risk for a dunking.

Since there's always a little water in the canoe ( at least when I paddle), I use that as sort of a " leveling bubble".  I thought about gluing a small level bubble onto seat frame when I buy my own canoe.
That way I can see at a glance whether I'm set up right for the conditions without any guess work.

IF your thinking of trying the double paddle, you do need a longer paddle. I use a 9' paddle, any shorter your banging the thwarts and exaggerating your entry stroke.

I'm sure that once you get the load distribution worked out, ANY canoe will perform to its design limits.  Working that out before you hit big water/wind is a good idea especially when your traveling solo

Thanks again everyone.  After reading everyone's thoughts I did some more looking and as soon as I'm able I will test drive the Prism, and the Bell Merlin II.  Either way I don't think I can go wrong.

I've paddled my tandem backwards for probably at least 20 solo trips and I get a better feel for it every year. On my last trip I borrowed KF's Prism. It turned at least one windbound day into a travel day. I was great in the wind compared to what I'm use to. It wasn't the joy to paddle though -at least not the sports car feel I expected. It was a fine boat, super stable - too stable for my taste, verging on boring. I think I'd prefer a little livelier boat with more obvious limits.

I bought my first (only) after test paddling four boats the same afternoon. It was obviously better than what I rented previously so it was a no brainer. These days, I wouldn't buy any boat based on anyone's recommendation w/o a test paddle trip or two and comparing it to another boat or two. You will notice what you hate instantly but I think you gotta paddle something for a long while to find the lovable aspects.

So... that said, if you want one, buy something. Do a trip or two. You can always sell it if you hate it.

At this point, I'd seriously consider buying a boat someone offered me for a test trip. (hint, hint, wink wink) Who knows? After a few different boats I may be able to pull the trigger on one if the price was right. I want to shed some portage pounds and still have a boat that I enjoy paddling at least as much as the tandem I know. I seriously expect the same performance jump I experienced between aluminum and glass/kevlar.