So, after refinishing the boat, I finally got a chance to paddle the Prism today. My first solo boat paddle ever.
I went to Blackwell Woods and did two laps around Silver Lake.
All in, about 4.25 miles in maybe 1.75 hours of perfect sunny, low breeze conditions.

At the very first, there was noticeable instability, but that was just me getting used to the narrower boat. I was very happy with the way the boat handled after I got the feel of sitting in that tractor seat.

The seat felt quite high, but again after a few minutes I got used to it. I think I would like to switch out the tractor seat for a mesh seat. My rear got sore after an hour or so in the tractor seat.

My paddle was an old two piece kayak paddle with fairly small plastic blades (Aqua Bound Tripper AMT). It felt short to me, but I have no real knowledge about how a kayak paddle should feel. But it did the job and soon I was cruising pretty nicely. I did bring quite a bit of water into the boat as the paddle requires a high stroke. Not a big problem as I have dry bags for everything.

I am surprised at how true the boat tracks when I give her a push and just let her glide. And the boat is so narrow! Paddling is quite easy on both sides.

I was paddling empty and I can see how placing the pack behind me will trim the boat nicely. I can't wait to load it up and do a few more miles!!

And, of course, stability will improve with a heavier load. I'd recommend a 2-pack arrangement for trips. This will allow you to more easily trim out the boat for a variety of conditions.

Another thing you'll notice is that you'll tend to bob like a cork in swells, rather than plow through (more common in a tandem). So, you need to keep your head ahead of the action when conditions are a bit dicey.

Finally, as long as you keep "your mind in the middle" the lack of secondary stability will be offset by improved speed over water. Just keep in mind that a Prism is a "lake boat" ... your mid-cockpit seating and lack of rocker does not work well when you slide over a ledge drop (think rolling like a log). In addition, I'd advise turning your craft to look behind you (if necessary) rather than abruptly shifting your body weight to look toward the rear.

But, I've been very happy with my Prism over the years.

dd

(Prism driver since '05.)

Sound like you enjoyed it, great!
How soon before a trip in it?

butthead

LIS 14 entry on 8/8/15 for a week solo. Looking forward to the small lakes like Shell, Hustler, Emerald for a night, maybe. I initially thought I would go around the northern part of that loop, e.g Slim, Steep, Eugene..., but now am thinking going east then north thru Oyster, Rocky, GeBe, Finger and back out Hustler, Lynx, Shell. I don't know if the Hustler River will be navigable in August. I've never been in that area. I'll play it by ear, ask the ranger when I get my permit, and choose a final route that day.....

So nice to test drive a new boat. Now finding the sweet spot and all the fun that is to come.

Dentondoc - I notice the boat doesn't turn on a dime. But tracks straight, so for tight quarters I figure go slow and rudder/pry some.

But, the boat is mine, so no more rentals.

I'm going to leave here early so I can stop at Rutabaga on my up. I've got my eye on a traditional paddle. I am going to try and learn the Canadian stroke (or something like it). This trip will be a whole new ballgame for me.

Glad you got her in the water and enjoyed it. Some people (me for instance) find tractor seats to be very comfortable. Others hate them. Even then some tractor seat designs fit me better than others (I don't like the large Wenonah tractor seats but the small ones feel good).

Try sitting on a thin piece of foam. Many people cut up old foam sleeping pads or those thin cheap blue yoga mats you can buy anywhere. With that I can be comfortable even in a bucket that doesn't fit me well.

Most people contact cement them in place but I've also seen people use a few pieces of velcro. The velcro allows you to remove it and makes it mutli-functional (camp cushion for butt or feet).

Alan

I have lots of those pads. I'll try that next time!

quote bhouse46: "So nice to test drive a new boat. Now finding the sweet spot and all the fun that is to come."

Yeah, I have some learning to do, for sure. I don't know the tolerance for tipping in this boat. I am going to definitely put her through the paces and roll it few times just to see where the point of no return is.

My BIL will lend me a standard paddle to try out single paddling, too.

I am going to try out different trims with 1 and 2 packs...

Lots to do...

Sounds like you are going to have some fun, J :). It'll be a lot more stable with a load and as long as you stay vertical and between the rails, you should be good. I've found that the trick to getting in is to stay low with hands on the gunwales and get your weight over the centerline. Trimming it a little bow heavy into the wind and a little stern heavy down wind takes some practice, but you'll get it pretty quickly. Have fun on your trip - that's a nice area to trip in.

I love my prism that I picked up off another member! I personally prefer the tractor seat over the mesh. To each their own though!

Sounds like a fun paddle.

J
We need to join Mark down on the I&M Canal again. I could bring several paddles for you to try. I will return form my trip August 3 maybe we can plan something after that.

So funny! I was going to ask you how you enjoyed your Prism as there have been a lot on the market lately. Also funny that you were out at Silver Lake. I was out there on Friday night at a preserve fishing class with my oldest.

Glad to hear that it seems to have an easy learning curve. Enjoy the solo next month!

L- That would be great. I leave pretty much right after you get back, but in Sept. we should paddle some.

B-We really gotta have a cold one or three sometime soon.

Always fun paddling a new canoe, enjoy.

The route from Finger west to East Loon Bay is a good one, Hustler River will take you thru Weeny Lake PMA.

Have a ball!

butthead

And another thing...I can just throw the boat on the truck and go. No making reservations for a rental or asking to borrow someone else's canoe...Just tell the wife I'm going (clear the hunnydo list) and go!

You mean your wife doesn't double the honey do list when you say you want to do something else . . .?! :).

JC -

Yep, the straight tracking of the Prism is nice for long paddles, but your assessment of turn rate is common.

You would probably get use to it after a bit of paddling, but I do know a relatively large number of folks have gone to a kayak paddle to eliminate hit-and-switch paddling and to improve turn performance.

I noticed in your initial post that you'd had a go with a kayak paddle. Just a guess, but I'm thinking you were probably paddling something in the 240 cm class (plus or minus). A 240 will often result in more of a windmill stroke for a solo canoe paddler. (The lower sitting position in a kayak puts you closer to the water and consequently a 240 is a fairly good choice for that mode of travel.) That's why most that use kayak paddles are probably in the 280 cm length class ... longer, means a flatter stroke with less dripping off the shaft collars into your canoe.

There is a huge number of choice options for kayak paddles (beyond just length considerations), so it will probably require some trial-and-error before you are dialed-in to the layout that suites you best.

MagicPaddler trashes the water pretty well with his yak paddle. He should be an excellent local resource for you.

dd

Yeah, I am going to look at a longer yak paddle at Rutabaga. Also, maybe stiffer blades. But I just have to start turning a little earlier than in a tandem.
Learning new things is a lot of fun.

There are disadvantages to using a too long of a paddle. You will go slower and your mussels will burn to the point you will need to stop paddling.

I paddle a DragonFly sometimes with a double. Its 23 inches wide at the gunwale and I use a 230 with a low angle stroke.

Lots depends on blade design for drippage. I use a Wind Swift
long narrow and a low angle stroke. Drip rings are essential.

Too long a paddle results in a lot of yaw.. zigzagging toward your goal. Also there is double blade technique that most people do not use . The stroke is entirely in front of you and ends before the blade reaches your hip. That minimizes turning.

Not sure I would heel any Wenonah significantly particularly seated.. Their secondary is not as good as other designs. However the difficulty turning loaded will be greater as the boat is sunk in more.

Turning the boat is actually less precise with yak paddles. With a little bent shaft you can be closer to the boat and with boat heel if you can, the boat will turn easier. Tight turns can be an issue on some rivers and sometimes alders grab a double.

The weight of your double is a significant factor. You have to hold it up all day. Meanwhile a ten oz single is half the time supported by the water.

So for the most relaxing time you are looking at a composite paddle with at least some carbon in it. And they are not budget basement items.

So I paddled about 4 mi today on Ruth Lake. I tried out 3 different seating configurations and 3 different paddles.
I have a couple more seating configs to try out tomorrow.
I do think the yak paddle suits me better than a single paddle.
I will bring a single as a back up, but I think I want to try a slightly longer and stiffer yak paddle.

I was able to trim the boat using a 5 gal bucket of water with a gamma seal lid. It makes a difference when the boat has a little weight behind me.

The guy I bought the boat from put a seat back together and gave it to me with the boat. It is significantly better than the Crazy Creek seat I have been using. But, it is wood and so is much heavier. However, I think I will pay the weight penalty for a more robust seat back. Especially since I am liking the yak paddle and foot brace configuration.

Good times! :)

Did another 4 mi today.
I took the seat pad from my Crazy Creek and combined it with the rigid seat back. It feels really good.

I am getting dialed in on the boat. I used the yak paddle for about 3 mi and a standard straight blade for the last mile. Everything feels good.