In a message dated 3/8/00 10:00:43 AM, rebyl_kayak_at_hotmail.com writes: <<Is it true that boats which have higher initial stability are not necessarily as stable in rough seas? Also can anyone tell me of circumstances when a roll, or reenter and roll is not the best method of self rescue in a hardshell? Various sources have suggested that for hardshells a shorter, heavier (15ft & 26kg) boat with a V chine and relatively low initial stability might be more suitable in roughish seas than lighter longer boats with greater initial stability (17ft & 22kg). I think one of the arguments goes that it is easier with the V chine to knee lift the boat horizontal when a wave is coming at a steep angle. Have I got the concepts right?>> Others on this list can provide better scientific arguments but I'll toss out my own anecdotal evidence. Initial stability which makes the boat feel steady on flat water also causes it to track the surface contours during excited seas. Which is to say that a boat that it will be tossed around by the same stability as the waves steepen. Boats with low initial stability have a much reduced righting moment and hence are little affected by the wave action. The V shape hull is more about tracking than stability, a rounded hull can be equally seaworthy but may track less strongly. Low initial stability boats are no harder to handle in rough water than they are in flat water. They are equally unstable in both conditions. High initial stability boats are at their best in flat water and become more difficult to handle as the conditions deteriorate. Shorter boats turn faster as a general rule and hence are easier to handle in rough water but there is a tradeoff in that the shorter length makes them more sensitive to wave action along the boats length and short can also mean slower to some extent. You are basically right about the knee lift versus steep waves as long as you substitute "lower initial stability" for "V chine". I've heard people argue the heavy versus light argument but for me it's more about sail area versus inertial. They argue that a heavier boat will be less affected by beam winds as the bow or stern rises out of the water. I believe that low windage is a better way to control this effect. I know of no condition where are roll is not the preferred self rescue but if for some reason it is not possible a reenter and roll would be my second choice followed by the assisted "T" rescue then lastly a paddlefloat reentry. Best of luck! Jed *************************************************************************** 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 Wed Mar 08 2000 - 06:24:28 PST
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