When my wife and I decided we would like a tandem we looked around to find a tandem riding group.
We found a group that rode sighted Captains with vision impared and other dissabled stokers.
I have been riding with them now for 4 years and have had the oportunity to ride a variety of tandems and have a variety of stokers.
When I felt confident as a captain my wife rode with other captains then me and we purchased our Cannondale tandem as the best available (out of a few on offer) and we have had many years of enjoyable riding.
As my wifes mobility has worsend I have fitted a motorised front wheel to make up for her loss of power and now we can go any ries over any hill around our area.
So if possible try befor you buy and get some experience
Regards
Joe