Message-Id: <abb0905504021004a0e2@[132.177.128.6]>
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 16:31:14 -0400
To: baidarka@imagelan.com
From: prl@hopper.unh.edu (paul labrie)
Subject: Re: Why Plastic boats?
Yes, it has been quiet lately...
>
>Then there are the proponents of hard chine plywood kayaks who claim some
>advantage in the design. Years ago I made a few plywood kayaks and the
>truth is that you cannot obtain the rounded shapes which give you a
>smaller wetted surface for speed and better wave handling.
Interesting. I'm currently building a small "Severn" for my wife.
The "Severn" is one of the Chesapeake Light Craft plywood designs. The
"Severn" is not hard-chined -- the two panels that form the hull are
initially joined flat at the keel at the mid-section of the (to be) kayak.
As "stitching" proceeds up the keel-line, at either end, a nicely ROUNDED
hull emerges. Same is true, I believe, for the "Yare", another of Chris
K.'s designs. (confession -- I bought these plans some time ago but decided
to build MY baidarka first -- poor Sharon!). I agree that it is difficult
to torture plywood in this fashion. I also would agree with the comment on
wetted area however for those of us who are "sharpies" fans and/or fans of
"instant" boats...well...a hard-chined boat is not the devil incarnate. In
most cases perhaps the skill of the paddler (or lack of it) is going to
have a greater effect on seakeeping, assuming roughly equivalent hull
shapes built hard-chined vs round.
>Modern Eskimos and Indians have turned to powerboats and snowmobiles for
>fishing and hunting. But for those of us who want to turn back the time
>and enjoy the tranquillity of a kayak, modem design and modern materials
>are the key. When I sell a 17 foot kayak to a customer I want them to
>have the best and fastest 17 foot kayak available. That is what they pay
>for. A modern, properly designed boat is inherently better in every way.
>They are lighter,
not the ones I've hefted... (I've not tried lifting any exotic
fiber designs, I admit)
>more comfortable,
perhaps. the 5.8M is a bit cramped, but I COULD'VE built it larger...
>have better water entry and are more stable.
Initial stability or final stability? In my canoeing experience a
canoe with a high initial stability (flat bottom) was a liability on a
stormy lake or in whitewater...typically it is precisely this type of
flat-bottomed canoe that appealed to a novice because "it wasn't tippy like
the others."
>
>--From: "Joe Seda Speaks Out on Paddling," in Seda 1995 Paddlelog.
I'm not very familiar with Seda's designs however I remember
reading a very favorable review on the Seda Gypsy in Sea Kayaker magazine.
Seemed like a nice little kayak at the time. I have a hard time
reconciling that review with what I've just read. Or is this just another
example of "the marketing peoples' failure to communicate with the
engineering dept.?"
- paul -
paul r. labrie paul.r.labrie@unh.edu
university of new hampshire ---------------------
telecom center voice 603.862.3684
durham, nh 03824 fax 603.862.4545