Hi all, I saw the post below on this subject and thought I would
return to RBP and post about it.

I have a Prodigy and like it. It is very fast, faster even than
my Rival (which I think is the best tupperware WW canoe ever made).
The Bell boat is very light, I was shocked at how light. I weigh
about 178-180 and may be just a tad fat for it. It rolls well, better
than the hard chined boats but not as easily as the Rival. I have
banged mine up quite a bit and thought it was just my rough treatment
but must admit that I am not pleased at how easily it dents. It also
runs pretty wet. I will think twice befoe I run any big volume with
it. For example, last week I paddled the Lower Gauley twice and the
Upper once in the Rival. The levels were a bit higher than normal
release. I was happy that I was in the Rival rather than the Bell.
It front surfs like a dream. The quick acceleration in a small boat
makes it easy to get on and carve. I was also able to make more
attainments than I normally can in my Rival. I like the fact that it
is a bit smaller than the Rival (11'6" as compared to 12'4") and I
don't lose any speed. It does not preform as well in hole playing as
does an Ocoee or the newer small boats like my Skeeter but rolls much
easier than the Ocoee or the Skeeter.
I understand that Bell is coming out with a slightly larger
version an am anxious to try it out.
One of the earlier posters alluded to the fact that this is a Bob
Foote design and if you like the Foote boats, you'll like the Prodigy.
I agree completely. I do like Bob's stuff. In addition I think the
Prodigy shows its Bell roots in that it likes to be leaned when
paddling. I am no free styler but will bet that a good freestyle
paddler could get more out of this boat than from any other WW canoe.
I think this is an advantage because it means for me that if I use
those sides I can increase its responsivness.
Suming up, I love the speed of the canoe. I wish it were not quite
as fragile and ran a bit drier.

As to material, I too believe that we have seen some loss of
toughness in Royalex. My 13 year old H2Pro still might be tougher
than several of my newer boats. I wish my Wenonah edge were as tough
as some of you say yours are. I like that boat a bunch but bang it up
too much. Maybe I just lack finesse.

Anyway, good to see my old RBP friends. I was wondering how we
are doing with sponsons and access in Boulder? Chris Kelly

....but rolls much
easier than the Ocoee or the Skeeter.

Must be a dream to roll, then. I found I had to abandon the Ocoee for roll
practices because I could use such sloppy technique and still come up; it
was the easiest boat I've ever rolled.

I also find that Royalex isn't as tough as it once was. My old Blue Hole
Sunburst II took considerably more beating before showing half the wear my
Viper showed in it's first year. My OT Appalachian is starting to look like
one of those old Grumman ww canoes; not a smooth surface left, while my
neighbor's old (very old) Tripper, with it's uncountable loads of moosemeat
down rocky streams, is still relatively mark free. How sad.

Padeen

Chris, good to see you here.

I long to see rbp return to the days of old. And you were part of
that. Not that I mean yer old or anything. Well, sure, you are and
all...

I'll say it again - pre-90 Royalex canoes, Soon they'll be like a
pre-CBS Stratocaster or Ford Falcons or 68 VW's. I would buy any well
cared for and stored-under-cover late 80's canoe model that I liked in
a heartbeat.

I guess they'll never make Royalex like that again :-(