RE: [Paddlewise] surf skis?

 
Julio,

I'm looking forward to the discussion that will be generated by your
questions about surf skis.  I don't have a definition for a surf ski. I've
only seen sit on tops called surf skis. 

As your post suggested, the key is to get the waterline length to the width
ratio as high as possible.  An interesting web site to check out on this
issue is the sound rowers boat classification web site.  The URL is:

    www.accessone.com/~traci/SoundRowers/yakclass.html

They define three classes of kayak based on this ratio: sea kayak (less than
9.25), fast sea  kayak (between 9.25 and 10.99), and high performance kayak
(greater than 10.99).  All the surf skis I'm aware of are considered high
performance kayaks with ratios typically between 12 and 14.  

There are some decked kayaks that fall in the high performance kayak class.
For example, a famous decked kayak in the northwest racing scene is the
Sissuou Evolution (affectionatly known up here as "orange crush").  The
boat's waterline length to the width ratio is greater than 12! 

As for rudders, my experience is that these boats really need the rudders.
Yes, a skilled paddler can control the boat without the rudder, but the goal
for surf skis and other high performance kayaks is speed.  If you want the
ultimate speed, you want to use a wing paddle.  A wing paddle is great for
forward strokes, but is not too good at correction strokes -- hence the
rudder is quite useful.  Even without the wing paddle, the rudder is useful
since it can replace some correction strokes and let the paddler's energy
focus on the forwared stroke.

As for surf, I can't imagine using a surf ski in breaking surf.  I suspect
their lack of maneuverability would be difficult and that they would tend to
broach in the breaking wave.  They are great, however, for surfing swells.

Finally, a comment on your greenland kayak.  I don't know if it would be
considered a surf ski, but its waterline length to the width ratio would be
around 12 which would make it a high performance kayak.

--Tim


-----Original Message-----
From: Julio MacWilliams
To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Sent: 12/23/98 10:05 PM
Subject: [Paddlewise] surf skis?

Could anyone please define what is a surf ski?

Are those long 19feet x 18inch rockets really used in surf?

Are they all open deck? Or does a long and narrow closed deck
kayak qualify?

Do they all have rudders? Is that necessary/desirable?

Can a 18feet x 19inch Greenland kayak be considered a 
surf ski? If not, what does it need?

thanks!

- Julio
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