Re: [Paddlewise] Tracking thoughts

Nick's remarks (after the sig; one glitch noted) have been festering in my
brain for a couple days, now.  I think my own requirements may depend on
how rough the water is -- which is mostly a function of how windy it is.

First, what I want when it is not very windy, and there is not much of a
"lump" on the water:  A boat which "tracks well" -- which holds a straight
line course and does not require constant effort-full corrections to
maintain that course, *in relatively flat water.*  It goes without saying I
do not want to paddle a boat which habitually responds to wind by
weathercocking.
	
When it gets lumpy, my requirements change.  To some extent, I find lumpy
seas make corrections easier -- due (I suppose) to the ability to exploit
those moments when the yak is on top of a swell, and a little sweep easily
puts the yak back on course.  And, when the lump is on, typically, I find
my boats "wander" more -- so I need to make more corrective strokes,
especially when in a following sea.  So, in rougher waters, a
"softer"-tracking boat would be OK for me, and I would not need one which
has Nick's "balance."  (See remarks below about his choice of the word
"balance.")

I prefer it when leaning is enough to make course corrections, and so a
boat which responds well to leaning is better for me.  In that sense, I
guess I generally prefer boats which Nick would label as moderately
well-"balanced" in flat water and with "soft" tracking qualities.  I
suspect Jerry's Red boat would drive me crazy (especially the
weathercocking), and that his Blue boat would be more to my liking, despite
its greater tendency to wander on flat water.

I have trouble associating the properties Nick means by "balance" with that
word.  "Rigidity" or "inflexibility" seem closer to what his "balance"
seems to mean, although neither of these is right, either.

Not sure I got anywhere in this.  I do know when I'm in a boat I hate,
though.  In that regard, the doggiest boat I ever owned was a (rudderless)
Aquaterra Spectrum.  In the slightest side wind, it was a mother to keep on
course, and leaning had variable effects, depending on whether you were
paddling or not.  When I quit paddling during a leaned turn, it would "wash
out" and do a virtual 180 turn!  Maddening as hell!  I finally strapped a
rudder on the rear to tame it down.
-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
--
Nick Schade wrote:
> 
> 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.

Huh?  How does this square with Red requiring hard sweeps and leaning to
turn on flat water?

> 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 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".
[snipped remarks on "stability"]

> 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.

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