Richard Ferguson wrote:
....
Since I have no experience to speak of in whitewater canoes, I am
inclined to think that a paddle test is of limited use for me. When I
have paddled whitewater canoes on flat water they feel very strange and
unstable. I guess if I sat in one and flipped it in flat water that
might be a reason not to buy it. ;-) Rather than depend on my own
uneducated taste, I would rather get an appropriate whitewater boat and
gradually become accustomed to it.

Comments? Suggestions?

Richard

If you're planning on using the boat more than one or two times a year,
I wouldn't base my choice on initial stability. I started out (many,
many years ago) in a Pathfinder. Boats have changed a lot since then.
I now paddle a boat that's 26" wide and it feels quite stable to me.
Going back to a Pathfinder-like boat or something in between is
unthinkable. One of my favorite boats (Millbrook Reaktor) has so little
primary stability, I've seen people flip just trying to get in it many
times.

Yes - you'll have to develop new skills to be a good paddler in a
smaller boat, but it's also a lot more fun.

There's lots of information on the C-Boats site:
http://cboats.net
Check out their forum too.