Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 17:57:29 +0200
From: Stefano Moretti <S.Moretti@agora.stm.it>
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
Subject: Re: [baidarka] baidarka cockpit placement
Kirk Olsen wrote:
>
> On Thu, 16 Apr 1998 Rick_Rubio@pci-main.ccmail.compuserve.com wrote:
>
> > In Wolfgang's book, the method of placing the cockpit doesn't allow
> > for extreme differences between paddler sizes (and resulting center of
> > gravity location relative to the boat's center of flotation). I'm 130
> > lbs/ 5'6", and relative to the back rest, my CG is about 3" further
> > aft than the typical 200 lb, 6' tall paddler.
Typical ?? How many "typicals" out there actually paddling ?? I'm a
"typical" 150 pounds by 6 ft and my girlfriend is 5 ft 2" and little
over 100 pounds (she wont tell me how much..) and yet this does not
affect much the trimming of the kaykak but rather the stability (more
stable with her than with me) due to different weight distribution.
If I stick with the
> > recommended 24" spacing between the back rest and knee brace, that
> > would put the CG 3" aft of where it was originally intended. I'm
> > leaning towards moving the cockpit (along with the back rest and knee
> > brace) forward by 2-3" in order to compensate.
Beware! Moving the hole backwards will be tough once done. Perhaps leave
it where it is and allow more leg space to move yourself 3 inches
forward within the cockpit..
> If you don't want to move the cockpit you could install a movable seat and
> backrest. Alec Leon, one of the attendees at last summers North east
> skin boat gathering, sits on the floorboards of his boat and has an
> adjustable backrest that allows him to change the position over a range of
> about a foot.
I do so too, but just make sure that the range of excursion is spread
across the intended CG and that you have enough space up front to fit
your legs.
As a rule of thum that I successfully applied, , the CG is set approx 10
inches forward of the end of your back when seated in the kayak.
> With the sliding seat I can adjust the trim so that a cross wind
has a neutral
> effect on the heading I want to take. If I want to head more into the wind,
> move the seat forward, more downwind, move the seat back.
Mine works just the opposite, so it is not to be considered a general
rule.