Re: [Paddlewise] QCC and length...

From: Matt Broze <mkayaks_at_oz.net>
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 02:09:32 -0700
Mike wrote:
<SNIP>
>>Just to pick nits, I noticed a couple of months ago that on the QCC "How
long.."
>page, the Mariner Coaster was somewhat farther down the list than I
expected
>to find a boat which is the first that comes to my mind when "short
overhangs"
>are mentioned.  The table lists it at 91%, while calculating from the
figures
>on the Mariner web site gives 94%.  Perhaps if *Cam* Broze was reading this
>list, this would have been mentioned earlier ;-)
>Mike Wagenbach


With 250 lbs. aboard I get 96%. I think it depends on which load you are
using to make the comparisons. With 150 lb. I get 93.6%. With 100 lb
paddler. 91.3%.  These are all using Sea Kayaker Magazines measurements 13'
5.25" and WL figures at the different weights (Note: except for a few
typos--that are a foot off--Sea Kayaker's published numbers are far more
accurate than from any other source I know of. I can't figure out where John
Winters got the measurements for the Coaster at 13' 6" long with a 12.31'
waterline. I assume he attempted to use the same gearload as the other
kayaks listed.
How about it John where did the Coaster data come from?
Usually Sea Kayaker's first column of data is for 150 pounds but since the
Coaster was used by many smaller paddlers they went down to 100 pounds for
it in the review article. At first I suspected that a misreading of  the Sea
Kayaker numbers had caused the error, but the 100 pound WL listed by Sea
Kayaker is 12.266' not 12.31 and the length was 13' 5.25" not 13' 6"? At one
time I think Canoe & Kayaks buyers guide had the Coaster listed at 13' 6". I
assume John will have the data for the Coaster on the QCC website corrected
quickly. Thank you Mike for pointing it out.
I checked a few of the other boats
and there seem to be disparities in the Chinook (I get 97%, QCC 92%),
Intrepid and Thunderbird data too? I looked at these because their designer
Lee Moyer has a similar design philosophy concerning overhang as John
Winters.
Personally, I think the whole overall vs. waterline length issue is kind of
a "red herring" when one is not talking about racing kayaks and rules
regarding overall length. I like the freedom from any rules, but the sea's,
one has when designing a sea kayak. What with all the overemphasis on
waterline length going on among paddlers my customers are really
surprised as well how fast and easy to paddle the 12-10 long Feathercraft
K-Light is (as Ralph Diaz just pointed out in another recent post to
paddlewise). The customers also expect that the K-Light won't track as well
as it does either because of another misapplied piece of "common
knowledge" ---that shorter doesn't track as well as longer. In actuality,
shorter almost always turns easier than longer but when there is enough
stern keel on the shorter kayak it can also track better as well as turn
quicker than many longer kayaks. I know this seems to be a contradiction in
terms but tracking and turning are not just opposite poles on the same
continuum (as they are often though of).
Matt Broze
A more detailed discussion of waterline length exists in "FAQ" at
http://www.marinerkayaks.com


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Received on Wed Jul 28 1999 - 02:13:27 PDT

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