At 09:54 PM 11/22/00 -0800, Matt Broze wrote: >stability too:-) My notes say I could spin 360 degrees in 23 sec. leaned (to >the outside) and in 27 seconds with the hull level. I could turn 180 degrees >(at speed while leaned out to the risk point) in 11 sec. and the 180 turn >took 18 seconds if I didn't lean at all (a measure of tracking stiffness). >Averages of 305 N.Amer. kayaks I tested are 11 seconds for the 180 degree >leaned turn and 20 sec. for the 180 if level (259 kayaks for this (snip of more data) OK, let's move on to lateral stability now that everyone's eyes are glazed. This peek we were just given into your notebooks is fascinating. For years, I've been of the opinion that the boats that I normally paddle are very stiff tracking, yet the numbers you present here aren't that out of line with what I'm used to. Because of my size, I don't get to paddle a lot of smaller kayaks, but I've been of the opinion that my size adds to the stiff tracking. My Nimbus Telkwa is a slow turner, although I've never timed it the way you have. In fact, I suspect it turns faster with the rudder up than it does with the rudder down. (The rudder is nice to have in crosswinds, though.) Again, I suspect that my fat butt has something to do with the slow turning times. Earlier this month, I paddled a whitewater boat that was large enough to fit me -- an older Prijon T-Canyon -- and I can't believe it would have taken more than two seconds to do a 180 level and sitting. We're talking turning on a dime and giving back nine cents change. Needless to say, it was not the most pleasant boat to paddle on flatwater that I've ever seen. So, I guess I'm saying that sea kayaks in general tend to all be pretty stiff tracking. What, in your subjective opinion, is a good balance between tracking and turning for a touring boat? A surfing kayak? What do you do to get the best of both worlds? I suppose that this is one of those things where everyone has an opinion. I'd be interested in seeing a few of your figures for turn times for selected examples of various popular boats, to see how they compare. -- Wes *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Nov 23 2000 - 07:59:45 PST
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:34 PDT