Very interesting. I think I don't have enough time in boat to notice the differences to such a degree yet. I certainly do notice differences. I think there's a bit of a feedback loop where more experience makes the differences more noticeable, and but a more experienced poler (or paddled) will be able to get by in a wider variety of hulls (tho simultaneously they will be able to better take advantage of differences btwn hulls too). Same goes for paddle designs I think.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
I don't actually know what the specs on the Coho and how it compares to the NC Prospector or the Souhegan for that matter. I recall reading it's a bigger version of the Souhegan? The Souhegan has a lot of rocker - but I guess the Coho has less than an NC Prospector?
Prior to contacting Kaz, I had learned enough to know I wanted a dedicated poling canoe and I knew it would be either the Souhegan or the Coho. I had conversations with people on a couple of different forums (not here) who had experience with one or the other - or maybe both. There seemed to be a consensus that - to put it simply - the Souhegan was best for play and competition, and the Coho was best for tripping. Since tripping in it was my intent, that's what I ordered. And it has been a good choice, I think.
The two have some significant differences. Substantial rocker in the Souhegan, where the Coho has little. IIRC, Souhegan is a little narrower and maybe shallower too.
As far as stability, the Coho and the NC Prospector are pretty much the same. The Prospector has considerable rocker though, and mine being royalex, was more blunt in the stems. So while the Prospector would spin on a dime while lightly loaded, it was definitely a slower canoe. The Coho climbs upstream noticeably easier than that 16' Prospector, and it has similar capacity.
I've often wondered if an NC Prospector might be a nice poling and paddling boat - interesting that it sounds like it turns too easily for you, as I often feel about the Souhegan.
I wouldn't say it turns
too easily, but that easy turning comes at a price - as noted above. Coho's higher efficiency comes at a price too. It requires more aggressive edging to make quick turns than does the Prospector. I expect the difference would be the same between the Coho and the Souhegan.
I will say this about the Prospector - for someone pushing the limits of their poling skill, it's a fantastic platform. Very forgiving. I learned a lot in that boat, and got away with some stuff that really surprised me.
I also have an OT Penobscot 16 in the garage, but haven't poled it as much since it's that much heavier than the rest of my boats and because I don't usually pole with a tripping load that necessitates the bigger boat. Is the Malecite too straight-tracking for technical water? The Malecite has also popped into mind from time to time, and of course the MR Explorer seems popular as well with polers. Good to know abou the Camper too - one of those hulls was for sale around me last year (needed new woodwork) and I was tempted but decided it was redundant to the Heron and Penobscot.
It's been a long time since I had the Penobscot, and even longer since I had the Camper. What I remember most about the Camper is that it seemed like I could almost float that canoe on a wet sidewalk. Very little draft, and the flat bottom was especially good sliding over shoals. It turned well too, but attempting to climb turbulent class 2 drops ended in numerous baptisms.
The Penobscot, OTOH, while it was the most tender tandem I've had, was very stable in the rough. Definitely a straight tracker though, and not as dry as the Prospector, the Coho, or even the Malecite FTM.
My Malecite has a completely different character as a poling canoe. Because it came with a center solo seat, it trims best going upstream stern first. Because what little rocker it has is in the stern, it's maneuvers well against the current that way. But the stern also has less shear so I have been reluctant to try poling it up any sizable drops or waves. I'm not sure how it would handle with the seat removed and poled bow forward. Hmmm. I need to try that. Of course, the shallow vee has that unique feel - not as steady as the shallow arch hulls.
I poled an Explorer one time. It was one I bought for my son who lives across the state, so I haven't ever been back in it. My impression though was that it was a very capable hull for poling, but a personality heavily influenced by that vee. I actually liked it, but find the differences of the ride while poling (and that of the Malecite) hard to describe. Their odd character paddled empty is well known. But when poling, I don't seem to notice it as much. Seems like they do excel at the off-side carve.
Yeah, a good poler can certainly get by with any of a lot of different hulls. The fact that Maine guide Lisa Dehart poles a Camper in all the videos I've seen - and on some pretty technical and unstable water - tells me she's got mad skills and could probably pole anything.
Me - I'm just a so-so poler obsessed with detail, so I gotta try a lot of boats.
I had shelved the Phoenix quest upon acquiring the Wildfire, but that tidbit changes my attitude a little. I can pole my Clipper Solitude on calm water, but it's not really maneuverable. The Wildfire....well, you know. But I am as reluctant to stand in it as I was the Dagger Sojourn. Maybe I shouldn't be. I wasn't afraid to pole the MR Guide even in some pretty shaky water. Maybe it's just unfamiliarity.
