Re: [Paddlewise] Too Light?

From: Kirk Olsen <kolsen_at_imagelan.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Sep 1999 11:42:38 -0400 (EDT)
On Tue, 7 Sep 1999, Gerald Foodman wrote:

> A friend is a light boat fanatic.  He has, for example, a 38 lb Kevlar Seda
> Swift.
> 
> How light is too light?

It's only too light when it breaks....

I've got a 19'6" 28 pound surf ski that has survived 2 Finlandia Challenges 
(by previous owner) plus regular use by me.  It's just a carbon layup and 
probably has some foam core in the hull.  There's negligible flex in the 
hull.  

A friend builds a 17' 25 pound greenland style skin/frame kayak that 
is plenty strong.  His extra sturdy baidarka, built for a 250 pound friend,
came in at 32 pounds.  The 38 pound Seda you quote sounds "heavy".

I would expect a spectra boat would come out very light but those are
mega pricey, something about the spectra being so light it tended to 
float in the resin instead of being saturated.  I vaguely recall the 
weight of a competition spectra layup whitewater C1 being about 10 pounds.
(I would be happy to be corrected on the weights and limitations of 
building with spectra).

kirk
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Received on Wed Sep 08 1999 - 08:19:59 PDT

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