----- Original Message ----- > I'm preparing to build a skin/frame baidarka and everything I read holds the > sea worthiness of these relatively flexible boats in very high regard - Is the stiffness argument as it relates to glass boats more a > matter of whether you can make a lightweight, flexible 'glass boat and not > significantly sacrifice strength rather than whether stiffness is a highly > desireable trait for a general use sea kayak? > Glen, I'm no engineer, but I do have preferences. One is for flexible skin-on-frame boats. Built a baidarka in a workshop and absolutely love it. Before "modern" sea kayaks became the rage, built Folbot kits and loved them too. There's no experience like paddling a boat that lives with and works with the sea. The strength of a baidarka comes not from stiffness but from forces working in tension. For example, when the boat flexes to the right, more pressure is exerted on the left to bring it back to center. When a force is directed outward, it is contained by the skin pressing inward. The boat is unlikely to be "broken" by flexure; its weakness is inability to withstand sharp impact or slicing. But even if an impact broke several ribs, the boat's overall strenth would not be materially diminished; redundancy of ribs and chines and the integrity of the skin leave sufficient forces under tension to keep the boat in tact. Held my tongue through the previous discussion, because I know nothing about building glass boats. Still, based on experience with skin-frame craft, have a hard time understanding the preference for weight and stiffness. Would think that a kayak, even without a frame, would be like a skyscraper -- where appropriate flex actually adds strength to the design. Stand to be corrected on this assumption if it's wrong. Rick *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Jan 14 2000 - 08:52:44 PST
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