hornbeck vs. placid boats

I paddle my Rapidfire regularly, at least twice a day during the cooler parts of the day recently as I get ready for the 90 miler. I paddle it single blade as a trainer for later canoe racing when I will be in larger boats with one or more team members. I have paddled my RF on the 90 miler canoe race, and multiple times on the Cannonball-90 (the entire traditional 90 mile route all in a single day).

Although others have done so, I would not want to paddle my Hornbecks in any competitive race, much less the 90 miler. But as mentioned earlier, I did portage one a total of 65 miles on a 185 mile week long trip to Plattsburgh, much of it being the same familiar route as the 90 miler. A Hornbeck has also been with me on many bushwhack off trail treks visiting isolated remote Adirondack ponds. Being much shorter, it easily weaves in and out between closely spaced trees where I could never transport a heavier longer RF. Very different boats, very different purposes, very different results.