Has anyone paddled the re styled caribou? Compare to `older style?
Speed? Wave handling?
Not paddled, but…
Shorter length/waterline, higher deck, softer chines, wider cockpit, rounder hatches… eh… I’m glad I have one of the older ones!
Actually, I heard that the “new” design went back to the manufacturer after a certain high profile retailer tried the boat, and wasn’t satisfied with the thigh brace position…
I too, have been wary of the new 'bou
I’ve wondered as well, about the changes. I have an old '97 Caribou (pre-skeg, even), and if anything, I’d want to narrow the beam, lower the deck both fore and aft, and give it a much smaller cockpit opening! 
That’s several basic changes already, but if the hull were changed as well, I’d think it would have to be renamed, as it just wouldn’t be anything close to a Barry Buchanan “Caribou” anymore.
Melissa
Barry Buchanan…(sp?)
has nothing to do with the boat now as far as I know… hence the changes perhaps? (licensing issues?)