How strait do you all go? I sit and switch and try and keep the bow between 11 and 1 o'clock.

Also, I can get about 6 strokes on the left, but only 4 on the right. Am I stronger on the right, or are my strokes just different? I know it's hard for anyone to answer if your not watching me paddle, but thought I would ask.

most likely carrying your stroke too far back on your right (more than your left)

If you get the stern to skid a bit, you can then paddle on one side and turn a circle towards your paddle side. The big trick is the initial skid and then with a very vertical forward stroke, pull the power off and starting a new stroke at your knee rather your hip. google paddling an inside circle.

I'm a 10 and 2 guy when I sit and switch, but that is with my 12.5 foot Old Town Pack.
I'm 11 and 1 when I C or J stroke that boat.
Any other boat I'm 11 and 1.

Seems in the videos I posted I go a lot straighter than I thought I did!

butthead

I like the question. I use the J stroke and the variation is more a couple of minutes on each side of 12. But have also noticed a difference in which side of the canoe I paddle on. It isn't so much how much the bow moves with each stroke, but how much the bow is skewed. If I am paddling on the left side my bow points a little left of my actual direction, at least that is the feeling I have as I move along. To use the clock again paddling on the left it is 57 and 1. Right side paddling would be 59 and 3. Hope that makes sense.

depends on the wind, I try to go as straight as possible if I am taking my time, change as often as needed to keep destination straight ahead, more because it is a good exercise but when trying to cover water quickly, I'll zig zag more

this might seem backwards, but when you put the peddle to the metal, put the hammer down, the extra work of concentrating on going straight, ... it's just quicker to put all my brainpower and muscle power into moving the canoe as fast as possible and make adjustments in course as needed.

how about twelve? unless there is a wind/waves or current when i know where i am supposed to go that is where i am headed.

Kept this thread in the back of my mind all winter. During my first overnight trip of the year this weekend, I made a point to pull up the iPhone digital compass and place it in front of me while paddling. On flat water, without current or wind, the compass would have a 16-20 degree swing. This was in a loaded magic with either a 4stroke or 3stroke sit and switch paddle at about 4mph pace.

I also found that my strokes weren't very consistent, and instead of the boat maintaining the exact same heading on each right and each left stroke, I would be constantly performing minor (10-15 degree) course corrections by varying the power of individual strokes. This may have been partly due to me watching the compass and not the forward horizon: I feel like I go consistently straighter if I "aim" for a bearing point ahead, rather than staring down at the boat.

Can't say I ever got good at keeping it going straight by switching, especially in any kind of wind. Have completely changed over to a kayak paddle in open water and now it's just not an issue. Still use a straight shaft in currents and near shore.