Re: [Paddlewise] Durability

Jed wrote;

(Snip)

>     What's your opinion on a battery of repeatable tests to try to get a
> handle on the strength/durability issues.  Certainly the numbers on
material
> strength alone are not the answer.  Is the design of the boat a
significant
> factor with regard to strength and durability?  Do you think that
meaningful
> test could be designed to test these properties?  Thanks in advance for
your
> input.
>

I don't doubt that a test regime can be devised. Not sure what it will cost
but I doubt if manufacturers would want to pay for it (based on my
experience with manufacturers). I doubt if Sea Kayaker has the money (or the
time) either.

The design of the boat does impact on its durability under some conditions.
I recall that one British manufacturer had problems with stress cracking
around the aft bulkhead (can't recall if it was VCP or Dennis). It was
clearly a design problem. A builder of one of my designs (not a current
builder thank God) produced some really poor boats where the design was
altered by the builder. I have yet to live that down.

Anyway, I am sure tests could be devised. Whether you can find the will to
do them or not and whether paddlers will really use the information to their
benefit or not remains to be seen.

Cheers,

John Winters
Redwing Designs
Web site address, http://home.ican.net/~735769


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