+1 on PJ's and ST's comments.

Happy holidays........Mike

Mike,

If you are going to keep soloing with that tandem canoe, check out some of my trip reports.

After years of trying different things, I think I have it down pretty well now.

  You want to be paddling backward in the BOW seat and into the current or wind the bow NEEDS to be slightly heavy.

  My old SR16 used tandem died so I used a 17 ft SR tandem on the FUBAR trip. I knew that extra foot of waterline was going to be a problem so I brought a waterproof bag, that I would fill will water and put right up in the bow.

Worked great. The wild card with people who take dogs, especially a big one is whether or not you can keep them in one spot. 

MB,
I'm correct in that its what works for ME. 
I take articles by experts and fellow QJ people as a place to start. Ultimately what works for them MIGHT not work for me so much.

Your hull shape, how much you weigh and your gear weigh, how and where you can load them. Do they lay below gunnells so you have no sail effect and a low center of gravity etc?

So many variables you need to think about, most become apparent with some good old-fashioned trial and error.

Since I don't own a canoe, I had to learn as I was doing. If you have your own canoe, it's easier to test things out before you go on a trip.

  That's one of the things I love about the QJ and trip reports. I learn so much from the way other's do things or what led to embarrassing moments.

Every trip I learn something new and like most here are always open to refining my methods.

MB....the only reason I was out in a 30 mph that day was ignorance/borderline stupidity and I must possess a high bladder to brain ratio!  BUT I did manage to paddle north to south down Royd lake in WCPP two years ago into a very stiff south wind with the old two blader and maintain some sense of dignity.  So contrary to what some folks say, I do have the ability to learn!
Later.......Mike