Re: [Paddlewise] stability of folding vs. hardshells

From: Leander <overfall_at_ix.netcom.com>
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 1999 18:42:29 -0400
At 11:44 AM 09-04-99 -0700, Philip Torrens wrote:
>
>Okay, I can't express this in formal technical terms, but I think Ralph
may be
right (upright?) in feeling that a sponsoned folding boat could be more stable
and self-righting than a hardshell of equal chine and beam. (I mostly use hard
shells so I'm not biased in favour of folding boats.)
>The displacement of a hardshell is essentially static, changing only as the
entire boat moves. The sponsons of a folder, in contrast, are squeezed at the
bottom as they are pushed deeper into the water, and therefore expand into
greater width and stability in the higher parts.  ...snipped...

I long ago read an article on this very subject, complete with formulas,
but it
basically said what you so eloquently and succinctly described. Though the
reference is long since lost, perhaps the design experts on the list, such as
John or Nick, know of it.
Regards,
Leander
overfall_at_ix.netcom.com

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Received on Fri Apr 09 1999 - 16:56:51 PDT

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