From: Guillemot@aol.com
Date: Mon, 6 Mar 1995 21:45:20 -0500
Message-Id: <950306214515_41399614@aol.com>
To: prl@hopper.unh.edu, baidarka@imagelan.com
Subject: Re: Traditional Kayak Designs
Paul,
>>.... 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
I don't consider something as delicate as a twig on the most vulnerable point
of the boat an elegant solution to a problem. A "bubbler" *would* be elegant.
I think the only way you could possibly notice a difference is in a time
trial with accurate time keeping. Otherwise the difference would be so far
down in the noise that it would not be worth the effort of replacing the reed
(lacking copper tubing) after every excursion. Of course if John Heath (via
George D.) is right that the "open-jawed" version never existed, it makes the
whole discussion somewhat moot. (I expect John Webber saw something
resembling what he drew in 1778, It's too goofy to make up.)
>tanker or the 5.8. These bifed bows were definitely difficult to produce...
I'm referring to the upswept bows of the Kodiak kayaks.
>> An archeologist in 2995 will appreciate your precise dating of your boat.
> WOW! I hope my boat does make it to 2995.
I assumed that when you die you will be buried in your kayak below the
permafrost where your remains will be discovered when they build the
"Six-Flags Over Churchill" amusement park on the Hudson Bay Riviera.
> 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).
I am not a "commercial builder", I build only for my own use. I do sell my
plans after I've tried them out. I do have a catalog.
One example of exaggeration is a 25'x21" double I drew (I haven't built it
yet). It is too long to be practical (storagewise). I drew it because I think
it would look cool. (I think it should work well also, but where do you keep
it?) My designs also have a pronounced upward sweep at the ends. I could
achieve about the same performance with a straight sheer and deck line, but I
would not like the way they look as much. My exaggerations (and those of
others) may seem subtle to someone not trying to design kayaks, but another
designer may gasp in horror, "WHY did he do THAT?" Often it seemed like the
thing to do at the time, or, "If it didn't do that it wouldn't LOOK like a
kayak."
Modern lobsterboats are more seaworthy than the nice old wooden ones. They
also miss completely, aesthetically. (Unfair, most modern lobsterboats look a
lot better than your average Bayliner "fishing boat".)
> Nick, this has been the most productive thread to-date on this
>list. Good job!! (got any more ideas that'll get us going???)
I instigated a lively discussion of the merits of "greenland" style paddles
last year on rec.boat.paddle. I'll re-post some of the discussion here after
this discussion dies. Maybe I can set someone off on why a pencil is better
than a spoon for propulsion. Or, how about those little pieces of ivory
sometimes used in the frame, what are they really good for?
Nick