Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 10:27:08 -0700
From: Philip Wylie <pjwylie@planet.eon.net>
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
Subject: Re: baidarka Fish Form Vs. Swede Form
It is interesting to note that Kayak Manufacturer 'Current Designs
fleet of production models are predominately 'fish form' while
offering a few models which are 'swede form'. It appears that
their fish form models are the most popular from what I have
been able to learn. One large advantage (as I understand it )
of the fish form as so aptly described is that it serves to keep
the paddler dry and the boat high as it punches through the waves. Moreover the form seems to offer excellent rough water
handling characteristics.
Appreciate the valuable commentary given on the contrast of the
two forms. Good stuff!
Cheers,
Philip
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dickson, Dana A. wrote:
>
> Fishform, built like a fish. Fat head tapering to a skinny tail.
> Swedeform, built like a Norwegian;-). Skinny head, fat lower midsection,
> skinny tail.
>
> Dana Dickson
>
> "You'll sometimes see designers referring to their boat as being either
> "Swedeform" or "Fishform". In a Fishform boat, the widest point of the kayak
> is forward of the cockpit area (where the paddler sits). This helps give the
> tail of the boat a slender release, which aids in rough water tracking. A
> Swedeform boat is just the opposite, with the widest point aft of the
> cockpit. By keeping the nose of the boat clean and lean, the Swedeform boat
> has excellent speed and manueverability."
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Gardner Congdon [mailto:congdorg@bc.edu]
> > Sent: Friday, February 19, 1999 9:53 AM
> > To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
> > Subject: baidarka hull speed, etc.
> >
> >
> > I've been following these posts with some confusion- could somebody
> > explain the difference between a swedeform and a fishform hull? Also,
> > regarding hull smoothness, didn't the America's Cup boats start using
> > hulls with a vertically aligned grooved finish to increase
> > hull speed? I
> > believe the grooves were less than 1mm in depth. Maybe this isn't
> > applicable to the lower hull speeds of human powered craft.
> > Thanks,
> > -Gardner of the all new, very consistent ribs (the jig worked
> > incredibly well)
> >