You'll need to understand keel vs no keel, and your unique canoe-ability.
Canoe design terms/concepts that will be beneficial to learn are: Rocker, Side Shape, Freeboard, Entry Line.
Pulled this up for you:
http://langfordcanoe.com/canoes/tutorials/Also, make sure you fit the paddle correctly to your size and the canoe. I have a 17' tandem fiberglass keeled Herter's that is a freighter. It's great for a load, but with one paddler is a bi**h in turning in the wind. I'm thinking I might chop the end off and put in a transom.
Anyway, I've seen a lot of guys unhappy with canoes, but I think most of that comes from having grabbed one that was cheap, rather than considering it's capability.