Re: [Paddlewise] Fore and aft trim

-----Original Message-----
From: Wes Boyd <boydwe_at_dmci.net>

>We had a discussion on Paddlewise here a while back about loading a boat
>slightly heavier in one end or the other to help control in fore or aft
>seas, but I wasn't paying a lot of attention and can't find it, now.
>
>Just thinking about it, I would think that you would want to be loaded
>slightly heavier than normal toward the forward end if you anticipate
>heading into wind or waves, and slightly heavier aft if you anticipate
>following winds or seas.
>
>Did I get that right, or have I got it backwards?
>
>-- Wes

If you are in an empty kayak and are only going to add 20 pounds or so then
what you said "slightly heavier than normal toward the forward end if you
anticipate heading into wind or waves, and slightly heavier aft if you
anticipate following winds or seas" will improve handling. If you know you
will not be turning around then drop the word slightly and load the full 20
pounds in the bow or stern.
If there is a good chance of extreme winds (that you may have to turn into)
put all the weight in the front. This will hurt sidewind and following sea
performance but they are still manageable however you will substantially
increase the wind speed you are capable of turning into. This is not the
best policy if carrying a substantial gear load because in that case turning
up into extreme winds then will be far less of a problem (due to the
substantial weight that will already be in the bow).

What follows is lifted from my (Mariner Kayaks) websites "Paddling Guide"
verbatim:

When carrying a lot of gear it is usually best to balance it so the load
behind the cockpit weighs nearly 2 times as much as the bow load. The room
taken up for legs and feet make the bow load about 1-1/2 to 2 times farther
from the center of buoyancy than the rear load. Therefore, putting equal
weight in each end would sink the bow much more than the stern. The heavier
the gear load the greater the percentage of that weight that should be in
the stern. A kayak will track straighter and broach less in following seas
if stern heavy because the stern keel is deeper in the water than the bow.
Weathercocking in side winds is intensified when a kayak is more heavily
loaded. Placing the heaviest weight in the rear helps decrease
weathercocking. Even with the bow trimmed higher, turning a loaded kayak
into a strong wind is not nearly as difficult as turning an empty one can
be. The added gear weight prevents the ends from blowing around so easily.
It is not necessary to carry a balance scale along with you to pack your
boat. Approximations are fine, I just put all the heaviest bags, water, and
fuel in the back and the lightest bags forward.
    When loading a kayak, also make an effort to keep the heaviest items,
such as water, closer to the cockpit (but behind you) in order to retain as
much responsiveness to the paddle as possible. Separate your gear into bags
containing compact heavy items and bulkier lightweight stuff. Put the
densest items (like water) just behind the cockpit and the less dense bags
out towards the ends and in the bow. With a small gear load always fill up
any space you are not using for storage with partially inflated float bags
to maximize flotation.
    Just before entering any loaded kayak, check to see that it floats on an
even keel (side to side) or you will probably discover that it has a
penchant for turning towards the high side. Turn over a gear bag or move
some heavy items, like water, more to the high side.

There is a more detailed explanation of the benefits of fore and aft trim in
our "owners manual". In the section on the "instantly adjustable sliding
seat".
Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com


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