Re: [Paddlewise] Stiff or Flexible?

John Winter Wrote:
>Ships flex and it has been shown that the flex reduces resistance.

I what way reduces flex resistance? Only in waves, and in hogging and/or
sagging action?
Would  a floppy (oil-canning) hull be faster in waves?

Does more flex means less resistance?

Are white water (downriver) racing boats flexible, or should they benefit
if they where built flexible?

>From my own experience I have noticed that a skin and frame boat was indeed
not much less faster when paddling in waves. But I never experienced this
in polyethylene boats. In those I do feel a performance loss, especially in
maneuvering! I like rather stiff (and as light as usable) boats because
they react better (quicker) to my paddling strokes.

Dirk Barends
the Netherlands


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