Ralph, I don't think you have anything to worry about. I mean, if you have been handling kayaks and rolling them for forty years, I can't imagine you having any problems with any solo canoe.

I have tried a few other solo canoes, though not many, and so far all are more stable. Below is a picture of my two Wenonahs, the Advantage and the J-201. The Advantage is definitely more stable, and the J-201, being a dedicated USCA C-1 racer, is noticeably less so as you might imagine. But it's nothing I feel like I have to worry about - and believe me, I don't want a dunking any more than you do. Not only are our water temps in high forties to low fifties during winter here, I'm a huge weenie besides.

Still, I never evaluate a boat for stability. I just learn its ways and train my butt to go with it. I see stability as half the boat's job, and half mine, and my job is something that can be learned. I used to see Cajuns standing up in, and poling, pirogues that most anyone else would consider tippy while safely seated; and that told me everything I needed to know. So now I just build the boat and learn to handle it and never even think about it.

: Kurt my ears perk up too, and I would love to build a solo canoe to
: add to my fleet of kayaks (seven, so far) for reasons you have
: given in this thread and on your web site (which I enjoy
: reading, thank you very much).

: MY problem is that I have difficulty when evaluating solo canoes,
: as far as their stability goes. In a kayak I am fine, I have
: been able to roll my boat for 40 years now, and I paddle kayaks
: from 20 inches wide (Bjorn Thommason's Njord with small cockpit)
: to 24 inches (double) with no problem. I have also paddled
: double canoes (both with a partner and solo) off and on since I
: was kid. But when I look at solo canoe designs I find myself out
: of my depth in evaluating stability. There is the Merlin, and
: John Winters' Osprey (that I really like the looks of), the
: Freedom Solo from Bear Mtn, and others. I am likely to have to
: sit rather than kneel most of the time (knees...). Most have
: very similar dimensions, so I am guessing they would feel much
: the same. I see you standing in yours and I am encouraged. I
: live in the Pacific NW so there is not a lot of canoe activity
: around here.

: So, what do you think? Have you paddled a range of solo canoes, and
: are they much the same? Can I just build an Osprey with
: reasonable confidence that I can sit on a seat of reasonable
: height and paddle it? I am reasonably agile for 62 but I don't
: want to have to deal with a really twitchy boat, and the water
: is cold up here on Puget Sound!

: Any advice would be appreciated

: Ralph Merriman