Turning
Posted by: CEWilson
on Jan-04-13 7:03 PM (EST)
Hemlock has "adjusted" the original Yost designed Curtis Vag and Nomad to decrease rocker a little, and made with an eye towards lightness in weight, they may oil-can/self-hog a little if the paddler is sitting rather than kneeling.
Vagabond/Kestral/RapidFire are designed for compact paddlers, the latter less so because the seat is very low for pack canoe/ double blade use. All three are 27.5 in max width. The average solo canoe is ~30" wide.
But Paddler position and stick skills are the key here. Vagabond/ Kestral with a compact kneeling paddler heeled to the rail should turn 180dg in their own length. RapidFire has a little more bow rocker, but basically the same song. If anyone under 180 lbs is unable to turn any variation of the DY designed Curtis Vagabond they need a paddling lesson, not a new boat.