Subject: Re: baidarka R: R: stability/performance vs. flexibility
From: James Mitchell (mariner@seanet.com)
Date: Sat Dec 30 2000 - 12:12:07 EST
Corey tells me he built a flexible single hull once, but feared it would not
last very long. I doubt that he used "bones". He comments that when you
were uncovering the hull every winter, you could easily make repairs to the
frame. Where he is attempting to have a covering that lasts ten years, the
repairs are not possible. He lashes the hull tightly to protect it from
precisely the same wear as anticipated by the bones in the hulls.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stefano Moretti" <stmoretti@tin.it>
To: <baidarka@lists.intelenet.net>
Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2000 3:42 AM
Subject: baidarka R: R: stability/performance vs. flexibility
> I have now two rigid (s&glue plywood modified CLC kayaks) and one flexible
> (nautiraid 420 touring) kayak. I can say that in rough, chopped, crossed
> waves, the rigid ones have much more of a corky motion, uneasy and tricky,
> deserving much more attetnion to odd movements. The flexible one (not
much,
> it is on the stiff side of foldables) seemed from the very first more at
> ease although tested in 2 ft short waves only. I am now going for a double
> 22 footer, as I am thoroughly convinced of the inherent seawothiness of
more
> flex.
> Furthermore, it doesn't slam and sound as a drum when driving hard against
> short waves. Of course, less glide and speed, say over a knot, but boats
> differ enormously in design.
>
> Stefano
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Douglas and Leticia <huftdecruz@earthlink.net>
> To: <baidarka@lists.intelenet.net>
> Sent: Friday, December 29, 2000 5:37 AM
> Subject: Re: baidarka R: stability/performance vs. flexibility
>
>
> > on 12/28/00 3:48 PM, Peter A. Chopelas at pac@premier1.net 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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> > > reproduced outside Baidarka or Baidarka archives without author's
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> > >
> > >
> > 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
> >
> > -
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> >
>
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> Baidarka Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be
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>
>
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