Re: [Paddlewise] What is rough weather performance?

Jerry wrote in response to Kevin;
(SNIP)
>
>What exactly do you mean by performance of a sea kayak in following seas?
>Is it  just  speed down weather?  If so, how would you measure it?  Isn't
>ease of handling while surfing wind waves the same thing as "forgiveness"?
>When you say that the Coho is smooth in rough water, isn't it forgiveness
>you are talking about, and isn't that good?  Is there any advantage to
>twitchiness per se?  Could you not have both good and poor performing
>twitchy boats?


>From a design standpoint controllability is the desired feature. By this I
mean that the boat should be able to do what the paddler wants it to do.
For some people this might mean responsiveness to control strokes, the
ability to surf at high speed or some other combination of characteristics.
On the other hand another person might want a forgiving boat that will
behave itself even when the paddler is less  than alert. The type of boat
depends upon ones objectives.

So, controllability can be active or passive in nature. Were I making a
long open water crossing a boat that could take care of itself even when I
was tired or stupid might be best. If I am playing along the coast a boat
that responds to every lean or stroke might be more fun and, consequently,
"better".

Jerry asked how one measures this ability. Directional stability is
quantified by something called a profile coefficient. The tendency to nose
dive is measured by superimposing the boat over waves of various heights
and steepness. The ability to surf can be quantified by using some of the
planing boat formulas for  dynamic lift. I am not sure any of this
information clearly shows that a boat will be good or bad but it can
provide a guide in the design stages to help the designer keep on target.
Unlike ships, kayak performance is highly dependent upon the operator and
one person's "really fun boat: is anothers abomination.

 Cheers,
John Winters
Redwing Designs
Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft
http://home.ican.net/~735769/



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