Subject: Re: baidarka R: stability/performance vs. flexibility
From: Douglas Ingram (redcanoe@pangea.ca)
Date: Fri Dec 29 2000 - 12:19:00 EST
(appropriately snipped reply)
> > The problem is that there has been a lot of debate and speculation about
the
> > usefulness of a flexible hull in a traditional baidarka with no actual
> > knowledge or experience.
> >
> > So the questions I would hope to answer are: Is a flexible hull
beneficial
> > or not? If so under what conditions? > > Peter
> >
> I learned what flex is good for when my 22' aluminum frame double baidarka
> was towed alongside a coastguard vessel at approximately a 45 degree angle
> while full of water for several miles . A lot of lessons were learned that
> day but the baidarka survived (admittedly it now has a bit more rocker
than
> when originally lashed). I am pretty sure a rigid glass boat would have
> faired much worse.
>
> Doug
I would venture, and I was going to offer this to Peter's comments above
before Doug's comments reinforced my opionion, that probably the single
biggest effect of flex is stress absorbtion.
I build some flex into all of the paddles that I make. How much, and where
to put it, is a factor of experience. It makes the paddle lighter, more
balanced, and reduces stress on the muscles.
By absorbing stress, one can build a structure that is significantly lighter
than a rigid structure. One can also think of the word resilience as being
applicable.
Douglas Ingram
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