I have become uncomfortable with the term "tracking" although I still use it for lack of a better term. I tend to use "tracking" in relation to ease/difficulty of changing course. Both intentionally and due to outside forces. I have been trying to use the term "balance" when external forces don't have strong tendancy to through the boat off course in any particular direction. Although I am not completely happy with my current definitions, by my way of looking at it Blue seem to be a "soft" tracking boat with balance and Red would seem to be a "hard" tracking boat with less balance. The problem with any definition is, do other people agree with it. I am uncomfortable with my use of "tracking" and "balance" because other people use "tracking" differently. Where some people tend to give "tracking" a qualitative value (good or bad), by my definition it has more of a quantitative value (hard or soft) so if I say "soft" they may interpret that as "bad". However, some people are may not mind having to make constant adjustments just so long as they aren't too difficult to do. In a qualitative definition, this may be a "good" tracking boat even though in a quantitative terms it might not have as much tracking ability and could be called "soft". Another parameter that has a definition problem is stability. Which has "better" stability a boat which is hard to lean over, but if you can lean it a little will easily capsize the rest of the way, or one that is easy to lean, but can be leaned very far before it capsizes? I guess it depends on what you want, but how do you define stability so they both can be good or bad? Nick At 8:52 PM -0800 1/16/99, Gerald Foodman wrote: >You paddle rudderless boats, Blue and Red, on a flat water demo day. Blue >is easily turned, while you have to lean and sweep hard to get Red to turn. >You conclude Red tracks better than Blue. > >You paddle both again in an enclosed bay, with the wind howling at 20 to 30 >knots, but only 1 foot wind chop because of the protection. Now you have to >work like hell to keep Red from weathercocking (or lee cocking). Blue is >easy to hold on any heading with a few easy leans and sweeps. You conclude >Blue tracks better than Red. > >You paddle both again in 10 knots of wind but in confused following seas due >to tidal current and a moderate rip. Every shift in wave direction rotates >Blue back and forth through 45 deg. You have to be instantaneously on top >of your leans and sweeps to keep on top of direction holding. But it is >fairly easy to quickly get back on course. Red requires much less attention >but when it does get knocked off course it is much harder to get it >corrected. You don't know what the heck to conclude about tracking. > >Jerry > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >*************************************************************************** Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 10 Ash Swamp Rd Glastonbury, CT 06033 (860) 659-8847 Schade_at_guillemot-kayaks.com http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/ >>>>"It's not just Art, It's a Craft!"<<<< *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Jan 17 1999 - 09:07:45 PST
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