Re: [Paddlewise] Sea Kayak Tracking

I agree there are a few composite kayaks out there that consistently turn to
one side in calm water and windless days and Ken has done a pretty good
analysis as to why this is the case (and yes, all bets are off with
plastic--no two are the same!).  Usually this tendency remains unnoticed by
most paddlers either because they rarely operate them at top speed where the
tendency is most noticeable or they are using a rudder and the ability to
over control  the stern drowns out the more subtle tendencies.
The vast majority of kayakers finding their kayaks wandering off one way or
the other are doing it to themselves but haven't yet figured out what they
are doing to cause the problem. The "Getting to Know Your Kayak" section in
the middle of our "Paddling Manual" at www.marinerkayaks.com lists several
ways paddlers unknowingly cause a turning tendency to one side in a kayak
that actually tracks evenly.
Contrary to what Ken said about "the only way to test for this", there are
several other ways to test for this. One is to paddle the kayak to top speed
then ease off a bit on the last stoke (so it doesn't induce a turn) and
coast while carefully holding the kayak level to the water on a windless
day. The kayak should track straight until it slows down and then drift off
one way or the other. If it consistently drifts off the same way (even when
you turn around and go in the opposite direction to eliminate any subtle
weatherhelm) you may have a problem with the kayak or your seating position
is off center. Try it again holding what you think is a slight lean to one
side or the other. Maybe you were actually leaning some and didn't realize
it during the first run. If it turns strongly with one lean and not at all
or only slightly with the other side lean this seems likely. The last test
will not find a problem with a kayak that only turns at top speed. Another
test is to try another kayak with the same or less tracking stiffness as the
first. If you are causing the problem the new kayak will probably
consistently turn the same way for you. If it is the original kayak's
problem the new kayak and most other more maneuverable kayaks you try won't
show the same turning tendency as the first.
Matt Broze
www.marinerkayaks.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_pacifier.com>
To: PaddleWise <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Date: Tuesday, May 18, 1999 6:34 PM
Subject: [Paddlewise] Sea Kayak Tracking


>Passing this on (with the author's permission).  Seemed lucid and likely to
>draw the techies out of the woodwork.
>
>--
>Dave Kruger
>Astoria, OR
>--
>
>Subject:  Re:   Help - Sea Kayak tracking
>          Date: 14 May 1999 16:03:04 GMT
>          From: lkfjr_at_aol.com (LKFJR)
>
>Over the years we have discovered more than one cause of poor tracking in
>composite boats (for plastic all bets are off because of tendency of hull
>to
>deform from heat, etc.).
>
>1.  Beginners frequently have a strong side and need to develop the
>requisite
>symmetry in the forward stroke; they also can sit to one side and create a
>slight lean to hull. The stroke causes boat to track to one side while
>off-center sitting cause random off-track directionality.
>
>2. Most boats will weathercock in moderate to strong winds but at differnt
>specific velocities depending on boat model and to varying degrees. This
>produces off-track directionality, but always determined by wind direction
>and
>is not consistently to one side.
>
>3. Some boat models are built from moulds that introduce an asymmetry.
>Usually
>this is only slight and is easily corrected by paddler who adjusts his/her
>stroke to accommodate the off-tracking. You'd be very surprised if I told
>you
>the names of some of these boats that demonstrated this slight deficiency.
>The
>fact that it goes largely unnoticed is testimony to the ease with which it
>can
>be accommodated. I had a couple of customers who once actually set up plumb
>lines and levels to demonstrate how far off one of the high performance
>boats'
>hulls were. But they paddled fine which is always the test, isn't it? The
>only
>way to test for this is to have a variety of paddlers test it under calm,
>no
>wave conditions and see if they have the same result.
>
>4. There is at least one high end composite model that had a rudder
>installed
>on it that caused a definite off-track veering. I had one so I know. I kept
>wondering why it was veering (rudder was up) and could not figure it out
>until
>a customer noticed the rudder attachment extended down into water by a
>couple
>of inches and was causing a small rooster tail as I paddled along. Since it
>is
>nearly impossible to mount the rudder base in exactly the center of the
>stern
>transom, this was causing the boat to always go left. The only solution was
>to
>either install a different rudder base or grind it down so it did not
>extend
>into the water. I have since explained this to 3 other owners of the same
>model
>with the same rudder and they were greatly relieved to learn it was not
>their
>poor paddling after all. The mfr. has since modified the rudder. So, I'd
>check
>out the rudder attachment base to see if your rudder extends down into the
>water.
>
>5. If you had a folding boat, I'd say you had one sponson inflated more
>than
>the other to an extreme degree or you had something (like a float bag)
>deforming the hull to produce an asymmetry that causes the veering to one
>side
>consistently.
>
>6. Fianlly, I recall a Lake Superior trip to Isle Royale and one in our
>party
>had discovered a leak in his hull where the moulded-in skeg (Nordkapp HM)
>was
>below the waterline. He attempted a quick repair with a piece of duct tape.
>Within a few minutes of leaving to continue ourtrip, he started complaining
>about the boat's veering off to one side. After a few derogatory remarks
>about
>his lopsided personality being translated into his paddling technique, I
>noticed that the tape had come partially loose and about two inches of it
>was
>trailing through the water on one side of skeg. This was all that was need
>to
>cause the boat to veer off strongly to one side. Pretty amazing to see the
>ruddering effect of a little piece of duct tape at the right locationon the
>boat's hull.
>
>Well, there are our reasons that boats don't track straight. You might
>really
>have a problem but first you need to check out your paddling technique by
>having others paddle your boat and you paddle others' boats.
>
>Good luck!
>
>Ken Fink
>Poseidon Kayak Imports
>Walpole, Maine
>207-644-8329
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