Message-Id: <ab80c75a02021004041b@[132.177.128.6]>
Date: Mon, 6 Mar 1995 09:44:03 -0500
To: baidarka@imagelan.com, Guillemot@aol.com
From: prl@hopper.unh.edu (paul labrie)
Subject: Re: Traditional Kayak Designs
Nick wrote:
>
>.... It (the bifid bow) is obviously an excellent seaweed gatherer. A twig
>lashed across the gap is not a very elegant solution.
You might be surprised at its elegance. Actually, I believe that
there was some speculation that the twig attached to the bow (a kelp
"plow"?) may have in fact been a hollow reed that functioned as a "bubbler"
introducing air just below the waterline -- something to do with laminar
flow, etc. -- with the end result of reducing drag and possibly increasing
forward speed. Has anyone ever played with this idea? Would a "bubbler"
be that significant a contribution or is this just a fringe thought? (hmmm,
maybe I'll try rigging one this summer using a piece of copper tubing...
then I'll need a stopwatch & a fixed distance....)
>tanker or the 5.8. These bifed bows were definitely difficult to produce...
Which bifid bows? You mean the curved ones? The straight bifid
bow on the 5.8 is really just a modified extension of the keelson, as I
re-created it. That was pretty simple to construct.
>I will also suggest that many design decisions are dependent on construction
>techniques. Given different materials and methods, would/should the same
>design characteristics be continued for reasons other than style.
I agree that many design decisions are dependent on construction
techniques AND types of construction materiels. I can only imagine what an
Aleut would've/could've done with WEST System, bead and cove cedar strips,
nylon fabric, etc.etc. All things being equal however, I think that ease &
speed of construction is a big motivator, especially when you're cold and
hungry...
>An archeologist in 2995 will appreciate your precise dating of your boat. He
>will also point out that a penny was a common talisman of luck and prosperity
>in the dark ages of the 20th century (very similar to an otter?). He will
>probably fail to realize that it is also fun to have a hidden detail that
>only the builder knows about.
WOW! I hope my boat does make it to 2995. At least it has a
better chance of making it to 2995 than I do!!! I agree with your
comments...
>Can anyone comment on the use of the 5.8? Was it a common style in its day?
>Is it a boat for "every day" use? A Grand Prix race car has much less room
>for art (except in paint) than a Trans Am.
I don't know for sure, but I assume it was fairly common. Speaking
of racers, have you caught the hull artwork on the Young America entry???
>I design my own kayaks and not having any naval archecture training I depend
>on the idea that, "If it looks good to my eye, it will probably look good to
>the water." In my designs I exaggerate some of the form beyond what
>experience shows is required for the function, to enhance the art.
Do you have some examples (of the 'exaggeration')? Do you have a
catalog? Can I assume that you're a commercial builder? Lots of the old
Maine lobsterboat builders 'built by eye' and the seakeeping abilities of
these craft are legend (and Maine lobsterboats are, to me anyway, very
pretty).
Nick, this has been the most productive thread to-date on this
list. Good job!! (got any more ideas that'll get us going???)
- 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