Subject: Re: baidarka R: stability/performance vs. flexibility
From: Rob Macks (robm@shaysnet.com)
Date: Sat Dec 30 2000 - 11:16:28 EST
An issue regarding flexibility that I can't remember being addressed is not in
terms of usefulness of speed but usefulness in terms of construction.
Since I build boats (sorry not SOF) I'm acutely aware of construction
issues, tools and techniques. It may be that flexibility was the solution to
keeping a long narrow boat in rough seas from ripping itself apart given the
construction techniques available.
Imagine a heavily laden kayak in rough waters. The more the builder
tries to make the boat rigid, the more wave forces are going to rip all but the
best construction apart.
I can’t find the wood I want with all the availability I have. They had to deal
with joining short lengths of wood into 16’ to 24’ long boats. The more they
try to tighten every joint force will be focused on the joint that is weakest.
I have worked with a great many different material and construction methods
from bronze casting, welding, wood and metal fabrication. You learn a lot about
working with materials that few who have not don so can understand.
I believe that the genius of the flexible construction was to allow the kayak
to withstand a storm without falling apart. The bone in the joints make sense
in terms of increasing ware and reducing friction.
Rob Macks
Laughing Loon CC&K
"Peter A. Chopelas" wrote:
> Stefano wrote:
>
> >Boats are the evaluated against this designer statement. Does the boat fill
> >the purposes ? How much so ? Does it go beyond that goal, and how?
> >
> > I find this attitude pretty sound and useful. more than comparisons that
> >are not related to any specific goal.
>
> 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? Is this something that should be
> designed into a hull and if so how much flex? Or is flex something that
> should be eliminated at much as possible?
>
> So the basic question is is why should a designer want (or not want) a
> flexible hull? And if so how do you determine how much flex is desirable
> for the conditions you are designing for?
>
> You are really reversing the question and asking "what is the boat for?" I
> am asking "what is flex good for?" a very different focus, and equally
> important if you want to use all available knowledge in designing your boat.
>
> Peter
>
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