Re: [Paddlewise] fore and aft

-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Sanford <jcasanford_at_earthlink.net>


>Does it matter in the handling of the craft where you place the cargo so
>long as you do not disturb the center of mass?  So long as the load is
>balanced the only effect of adding cargo no matter where you put it is to
>make the vessel more difficult to accelerate.  Is this not so?  Joe s


Yes to the first question and no to the second. There will be several other
effects (and many have already been mentioned by others) but not in the
context of your post. Adding weight makes the vessel more difficult to
accelerate in more ways than just straight ahead. Roll, pitch  and yaw
motions will be slowed down and the kayak will sink deeper in the water and
this will most likely change the wind/water couple (center of lateral
resistance and center of windage). Moving the weight around but keeping the
same center of mass won't change the wind/water couple or straight line
accelleration but will affect the rotating motions. As someone said already
putting the weight more out to the side will slow down the roll period.
Putting weight further out near the ends of the boat will slow the response
to waves (pitching) and and slow yawing movements. This change can make a
kayak wetter riding and much harder to turn or spin (or to stop such motions
that have been induced by outside forces--such as waves and gravity). The
result is the kayak becomes harder to control.

Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com



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