Date: Fri, 15 Sep 1995 08:38:45 EDT
From: prodigy.com!MRPK81A@imagelan.com (MR TOM CLARKE)
Message-Id: <013.01340263.MRPK81A@prodigy.com>
To: baidarka@imagelan.com
Subject: Baidarka bend...
What I'm hearing people say is that the flex is good, but
that if the kayak hogs, then is will slow down... My
experience with my own (Dyson 5.28, aluminum) is that there
is too much flex...no, there is too much bend with the
weight of the paddler...
In George's note, he imlied, I believe, that the tubular
gunnels provide too much flex, and that wooden gunnels would
be stiffer...
What if we laid in a 12 to 14 foot strip of light, but
strong wood (spruce would be ideal if available) that was
7/16 thick, and fit the space between the gunnel and the
first string below it, lashed to the outside of the frames.
This would add little weight, and would significantly
stiffen the hull...(would also require re-skinning in a
retrofit)...
I am very seriously thinking of doing this, but would like
to hear from others before starting...Note..I have other
reasons to reskin...see my notes that Nick Schade has on his
WEB page...i.e.: move frame 5 forward an inch to get more
knee room, fix up (aesthetic issue only) the bow, (not in my
building notes) redo the pump outlet which I put under the
waterline and I think may be leaking...TLC