Re: [Paddlewise] Magazine out-Article by Doug L

Doug wrote:

>>>I know enough respected, big name paddlers who share a
similar view about the need for weight in open water conditions. <<<

Who, besides Derek Hutchinson?

While I agree that weight can help in extreme conditions it doesn't have to
be the weight of the kayak. I think this is often used as a justification
for British heavies. Below is some of what I wrote to Derek concerning the
manuscript I had reviewed for "Derek Hutchinson's Guide to Sea Kayaking"
back in (I believe) 1983 or 1984. I still believe much of the design
information in that book was in reality mostly advertising for Derek's
kayaks in America.

<SNIP>
My main interests are in the areas of safety and kayak design.  That will
be obvious from what follows.  We obviously have some different
ideas when it comes to designs.  As a designer yourself you are
in an awkward position when writing about designs since many
readers will consider what you say to be no more than advertising copy
for your designs.  I have never met a kayak designer yet that
didn't feel his designs were the best.  One could hardly expect
that your writing on design wouldn't reflect your experience as a
designer.  May I suggest that you confront this issue directly by
stating it and then proceed to describe what you think a kayak
should be able to do and how it should perform in the hands of an
experienced kayaker.  Mention as, Frank Goodman does in his
lectures on design,  the problems the designer faces and some of
the compromises that must be made (or worked around).  Finally
get down to the ways yourself and other designers attempt to solve the
problems.  This is the dangerous area as its easy to present
your own solutions as the only solutions.  This book could easily become the
bible of the sport, it would be too
bad if all future designers felt hesitant about trying some new
solution to a design problem because you had stated emphatically
that such and such was a must on a seaworthy kayak.
If you get down to basics and present the problems that need
solutions and then present some of the solutions you have
discovered or have heard about in a way that mentions the
possible advantages and disadvantages of each I think you can
avoid dogmatism which may later be an embarrassment to you
<SNIP>
p23)  The difference in handling of kayaks weighing 10 to 20
pounds more is very small although 20 pounds of ballast
concentrated at one end or the other can be quite significant.
It is easy to add ballast to a kayak but much more difficult to
make the heavier kayak easy for a small person to carry.  The
real trade off with weight is strength and rigidity, but even
here materials and construction methods can make a big
difference.  A 60 pound vacuumed bagged kayak made of vinylester
and woven roving is easily the match for a 75 pound kayak of
polyester resin and mostly fiberglass mat and coremat.  It is
when you start pushing the limits of lightness (30 to 40 pounds)
that even the strongest materials won't help much due to the
flexibility of the thin laminate and the stress risers that form
on flexing beyond certain limits.  Here in the Northwest the
public demands and gets a kayak that is a little too lightweight
to take hard pounding on rocks or enders in surf.  Few people
here need all the extra strength that 10 pounds would bring.
Those that do usually order a kayak of their choice custom built
to  heavy duty specifications.  Since only a few will buy the
heavy duty kayak you can hardly expect that a manufacturer would
not try to satisfy the demand but insist that if the customer
wants one of his kayaks he must buy a heavyduty one.  He
would soon be bankrupt.

Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com

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