PG wrote:
Thank you Brian, for your comments and the link. According to the formula
the max hull speed for my boat is 5.31 knots or 6.1 mph. I've already
noticed that at 5 mph I'm pushing fairly hard, and trying to get above that
seemed like I was hitting a wall. I'll have to pay attention to the quarter
wave to see if it is there at the end of the boat when I am going my
fastest. But your point is taken - probably the optimal cruising speed for
me in the Squall is around 4.2-4.5 mph. I'm not sure that I've outgrown the
boat yet, as there are still a bunch of skills I need to acquire (rolling,
edging, getting a decent high brace...).

I don't mean to "dis" your boat, as it's a capable craft that's
certainly useful for learning in, not to mention day/weekend trips. I've
got one boat, a Pintail, that hits the wall at around the same speed.
It's a great boat in rough water, but it's a pig when it's flat and calm.

While I got your attention, there's another question that's been bothering
me. Somewhere I have read that a good paddler should be able to go backward
in a straight line almost as fast as going forward. When I try to do that,
I find that at slow speed I can maintain a straight line, but at higher
speeds there is a pronounced turn to the right, which I cannot compensate
for with sweep strokes. My rudder is always up so I can't blame it. I
thought perhaps I was doing an inadvertent edge, but doing a deliberate edge
in either direction still gave more or less the same result. Do you think
there is something assymetric in my technique, or is it inherent in the
boat?

It could be either, but the former is more likely. Paddling straight in
reverse can also be very boat dependent. Some boats are easily
controllable while being paddled backwards, others won't go straight for
any reason.

As with the forward stroke, it's normal to have some asymmetry in
technique and strength that can cause the boat to turn in one direction
or the other. It's also common for people to sit with one hip a bit
lower than the other, which can have a similar effect.

It IS possible that the boat is slightly "bent", but it's pretty unlikely.