In a message dated 5/14/00 3:50:30 PM, rob_cookson_at_mindspring.com writes: << Could someone please explain to me why tippy boats are more seaworthy. I hear this a lot >> Hey Rob, I'm not a naval architect but I've been told that the same forces that keep a wide boat stable on flat water act to heel the boat when waves hit broadside. If seaworthy is defined as difficult for the sea to capsize then narrow and unstable is seaworthy. I've also heard it said that a narrow boat is equally unstable in rough seas as it is on flat water. But a stable kayak is only stable on flat water. I of course never said these things myself, but rather they are things that I've heard. Maybe once I actually buy a kayak I will be able to test out the theory. lol 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/ ***************************************************************************
>. I am not particularly > nationalistic and really like many of the British boats, but think that > it is far more complex then the generalities you expressed. Boy. . . I'll say. I thought for a minute it was a troll. Based on my limited review of the boats available today, I would humbly suggest that the distinction between "British boats" and "American boats" is currently of very limited value. Many characteristics once associated with the respective "camps" have been adopted and incorporated by the other, and both "sides" have made changes and advances previously associated with neither. The whole distinction is silly, IMO, and is more an opportunity for Brits and Americans to chastise each other a little bit, hopefully in good, clean fun. As far as I can tell, the primary difference between American and British boats at this point, at least the ones referred to in the original post, is that most of the British boats are still laid up by hand, whereas vacuum bagging is more common in the American boats. To some extent, I think this reflects the British tendency to "stick with what works" (or to be slow to adopt new technologies) -- the automobile analogy being somewhat appropriate. I love the old British sports cars -- I've owned a number of them. But no one in his right mind would claim they are well engineered or technologically advanced. Fun, sexy, and simple. I would also think that the tendency to lay up the boats by hand may reflect the fact that the Brits often confront far more difficult coastlines and conditions than Americans do. Thus, the need for a tougher boat. Hell. . . I'll take the easier coastlines any day, thank you. There is also a tendency to identify British boats with two or three designers -- Hutchinson and Nigel Dennis come to mind. That seems simplistic, as well. The whole thing is really a distraction, and of little if any real use. Just my opinion, worth what you paid for it. Mark L > by the way, whenever I use American I mean North American. Right. . . including Canada and the Maritimes. Not to mention Alaska, the Northwest Territories, etc. Gives the picture a different hue. . . *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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