Phillip wrote; (SNIP) > this not make sponsons more desirable and functional since it would be easier > to initiate their deployment much the same as a scuba divers life vest? > I don't know. If one is in the business of manufacturing sponsons perhaps a > little more > Research and Development could be brought to bear on the design. The way they > are presently designed by Ingram suggests they are certainly not the panacea he > > makes them out to be. I would think there exists enough talent among this list > of subscribers to solve the problem. Gee, you might even be able to put Ingram > out > of business with a superior design. The ultimate question to be answered, > however, > remains: is there really a need for them? There will always be a use for such things as sponsons. It is up to the individual to decide if there is a need and to recognize any shortcomings the equipment may have. No doubt sponsons could be improved. Nothing is perfect. One could also take another approach. Why not make sponsons redundant? Why not design boats with enough stability to allow wet re-entry without having to use sponsons? Cheers John Winters Redwing Designs Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft http://home.ican.net/~735769/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
John Winters wrote: > There will always be a use for such things as sponsons. It is up to the > individual to decide if there is a need and to recognize any shortcomings > the equipment may have. > > No doubt sponsons could be improved. Nothing is perfect. One could also > take another approach. Why not make sponsons redundant? Why not design > boats with enough stability to allow wet re-entry without having to use > sponsons? How would this make sponsons redundant? Forgive me if I am a bit slow, but I really do not understand your point. Of course one could design a boat which, due to it's substantial beam, always has the same stability as Boat X with sponsons deployed. But the problem with such an approach is that you cannot reduce the beam for those times when a less beamy boat is desired. With sponsons you can increase the beam *temporarily* for the purpose of taking a crap or a nap (or whatever), and then reduce the beam once it is time to paddle. How do you intend to achieve this if the boat is beamy to begin with? Personally, I do not like the feel of beamy boats, but I do like the option of temporarily increasing the beam. As always, this is just my humble opinion. Dan Hagen Bellingham, Washington *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
At 05:47 PM 2/2/98 -0800, Dan Hagen wrote: snip-----> > But the problem with such an approach >is that you cannot reduce the beam for those times when a less beamy >boat is desired. With sponsons you can increase the beam *temporarily* >for the purpose of taking a crap or a nap (or whatever), and then reduce >the beam once it is time to paddle. snip-----> > Personally, I do not like the feel of >beamy boats, but I do like the option of temporarily increasing the >beam. As always, this is just my humble opinion. >Dan Hagen Now here, HERE is what I consider a good use for these things... uh... any suppliers on the west coast near us? 'Fraid the price would be just too high from the supplier out Georgian Bay way... Lake Washington looked tooo good today, I saw it often as I packed boxes... whata time to pick to move... Heh! Take care, Tom... Kirkland, Washington Three left turns make a right... -T.W. <http://www.isomedia.com/homes/gadfly/> *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
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