Here’s my $.02 ( American currency) ………  I currently have about 8 canoes, and have owned and extensively paddled around 25.  In my experience, the Wenonah Spirit II  and the “Prospectors”  come as close to the fabled all around canoe as anything out there.  The Spirit is definitely faster on flatwater, and is quite capable of class 2 water with good paddlers.  My Spirit II has tractor style seats which pretty much kills it as a solo boat for me, as I am not a fan of kneeling for long perods.  But, I have paddled both extensively solo.  The Prospector is much more responsive ( you can see me paddling one solo at – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O-I07vifvE – and decide if I have any idea what I am talking about)  and in general more “fun” on moving water, especially small twisty rivers.  Neither one of these boats will ever hold a candle in speed to a dedicated lake tripper ( Wenonah Minnesota II etc.), but I have run lake boats like that down shallow rocky twisty streams, and its UGLY!  If the definition of an all around canoe means handling as much varied water as possible, both solo and tandem.  I think the vote still goes to the Prospector design.  Remember – it is a TANDEM canoe that you can paddle solo, not a solo canoe that you can paddle tamdem.  Its designed to haul a lot of gear through the bush.  Its been described as the F150 of canoes. Appropriate,  except that it is also possibly the most beautiful hull design, ever.  I don’t have one at the moment.  I am waiting for one that is being built for me ( wood and canvas) on one of the original Chestnut Prospector forms by Headwaters canoe ( they’re Canadians). 

Its the same old, same old.  If you can only have one boat,  you need to decise what kind of paddling you want to do the most, not what boat you want and then try to make it work on the water you paddle the most.

P.S.  As far as all the Bill Mason stuff – get his DVDs and watch them – he never suggested healing a boat in rough water.  He is quite thorough in his descriptions of what techique is appropraite when.

You all have fun now ………..