-----Original Message----- From: Kenneth Cooperstein <cprstnc1_at_optonline.net> >I am perplexed by the variety of sea kayaks and the use of rocker. Once >you decide on total load and your level of skill (stability), it seems >to me that the intended use dictates the rest of the design. Yet every >manufacturer seems to offer several boats with variation in rocker being >one of the principal differences. What am I missing? Lots. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. As I have said before, I'd suggest as a buyer you judge a kayak by how it feels to you under a variety of conditions when you paddle it and quit trying to analyze what you think it should do based on a little information (or misinformation) you have gathered. > >Assumptions: > >(1) The boat should be usable in rough conditions without its rudder. I agree > >(2) Leaning the boat a little causes it to turn away from the lean >because the low side is longer on the water than the high side, causing >lift aft. Thus lean can be used to steer in open water. No, this would cause lift sideways unless the hull is also asymetrical (then the widest part will lift more). If the maximum width is behind center you will be right then. > >(3) Leaning the boat a lot increases rocker and shortens the waterline, >making the boat easier to turn with the paddle, but decreases tracking >ability. Yes and it also angles the stern keel allowing it to slide easier. > >(4) Increasing base rocker makes the boat more maneuverable with the >paddle, but decreases tracking ability. Maybe if all other things are equal, but since they rarely are and so many other factors are involved here I wouldn't make this a general assumption. > >Based on the foregoing, it seems to me that a sea kayak should have >little if any base rocker; otherwise it will be difficult to paddle in >windy conditions without a rudder. You're way off base here. Much depends where the rocker is. Also a more manueverable kayak is often easier to keep on course because you can use that manueverability to more easily compensate for the kayaks less desireable tendencies. >It should also be designed so that >at high lean, it has abundant rocker and a shorter waterline. This will >permit maneuvering in tight quarters. Unfortunately you might not want a big wide kayak like this and even if you do it is now harder to lean it to take advantage of this ability. >The rudder is only used to help a >bit in windy conditions and when surfing. If it is needed at all then. > >If the foregoing is true, why would anyone choose say a Seawards Vision >over a Seawards Navigator for sea kayaking? These boats are identical >except for rocker. Yes that is the difference. The Navigator was critizied in its Sea Kayker review because it was so hard to turn, turning into strong winds was nearly impossible. The Vision was Seawards answer (but to my tastes it was an improvement but not nearly enough). >Similarly, why do many people like the Looksha IV? >Without its rudder, it is hard to paddle in strong wind. I'd guess they like its sporty manueverability. If by hard to handleyou mean its tendency to weathercock in sidewinds you can either choose to use the rudder then or learn the skills let you use that kayaks extra manueverability to help make the necessary corrections. A long list of weatherhelm compensating skills is in Manuals/Paddling Skills at www.marinerkayaks.com. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Sep 29 1999 - 23:53:23 PDT
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