Re: [Paddlewise] Durability Testing -- "Boof Number"

At 6:55 AM -0500 1/7/00, Kenneth Cooperstein wrote:
>[SNIP]
>Manufacturers could simply advise buyers of the boat's Boof Number (in
>feet of survivable boof) and those interested in such things could act
>accordingly.  In passing, I note that if my sea kayaks were as hefty as
>my whitewater kayak, they would weigh 150 lbs. and require way too much
>effort to paddle, especially with a load.

The problem with boofing a fiberglass boat is that gel-coat is not 
meant to flex that much. In fact, I have seen a couple manufactures 
who were delving into kevlar boats with lousy results because of 
cracking gel coat (kevlar in a light layup flexes more I believe, 
someone correct me if I'm wrong). Drop a glass boat and you're going 
to get cracks. Part of the appeal of glass is its stiffness. Now a 
baidarka...

My main concern with durability is to avoid getting holes in the hull 
(which I have done). I currently paddle a Current Designs GTS which I 
love, but wish it had a heavier layup. Paddling in Lake Superior nice 
sandy landings are few and far between. Surf and storm landings and 
launches on rocky can wear a boats gel-coat down pretty quickly. I 
will most likely add a keel strip this spring.

-Patrick
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