Re: [Paddlewise] What Kayak to Buy?

From: Robert C. Cline <rcline_at_onramp.net>
Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 20:21:37 -0500 (CDT)
John Winters wrote:

>
>Poly boats do have more resistance due to the surface finish (rough center
>seams etc..)  and propensity of scratches that are proud of the hull
>surface and often have hairy projections.  The increase in frictional
>resistance coefficient is roughly 3%. Not a whole lot but there
>nonetheless.

Brian Heath replied:

>Thus, in terms of energy spent in a long day of paddling, it
>sounds like 3% or so is my only worry.  And that is well within my range of
>acceptable.  Thanks!


I don't know about boat hulls, but with airplane wings, a rough surface,
such as  clear and especially rime icing not only increases the coeficient
of resistance (called drag) it completeley destroys the lift capacity of
the wing.  A little roughness on the surface destroys the laminar flow...
In other words... it won't fly.  I would suspect that a boat hull might be
similarly, although not as drastically, effected.  I mean, it is not going
to sing.  However, it is not the resistance that is so critical with the
wing, but the destruction of laminar flow.  The question is John, does this
analogy apply to the boat hull and is the 3% therefore, worse than it
sounds?

Robert





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Received on Tue May 26 1998 - 18:22:02 PDT

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