RE: [Paddlewise] Lateral stability (was Ellesmere (was: the never ending stability thread))

From: Wes Boyd <boydwe_at_dmci.net>
Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2000 08:55:06
At 03:40 AM 11/25/00 -0800, you wrote:

>Actually the Telkwa is only a stiff tracker/slow turner if you don't lean it
>strongly. It is an amazingly maneuverable kayak for being over 18' long if
>you are willing to lean strongly. In fact the Std. Telkwa had the biggest
>percentage spread between how quick I could turn it 180 degrees leaned vs.
>how quick I could turn it level. 9 sec vs. 28 sec.   8/23 for the HV for me
>and 10/29 for the Telkwa Sport.

I know it turns faster in a leaned turn, but hadn't realized that it was
hugely faster. Probably I'm not aggressive enough in the lean. Something to
work on, I guess.

>Next time you paddle it Wes time how fast you can turn it and spin it in
>place both leaned and holding it level thoughout. Send us or me the results.

Won't be till spring, now -- the water around here has pretty much turned
hard, and I don't feel like being that aggressive in water that's just
above freezing, if it's liquid at all.

>Do you have the Std. or HV? BTW it took me 12 sec. with the rudder down and
>turned fully compared to 9 seconds without. Usually the rudder is a second

Sure puts a different light on the rudder vs. no rudder controversy,
doesn't it.

>slower or the same. The Telkwa rudder probably can't be angled as much as

The rudder will turn enough to stall it if you're moving at speed. BTW, I
have the standard Telkwa -- the HV felt way too big for me, while the
standard was just marginally too big. For a guy my size, having a boat that
feels too big is rather unprecedented, and kind of nice.

>some others. Still 12 seconds is a pretty much average turning time for a
>North American sea kayak and fast for a 18 footer. 360 degree spin in place
>times were 22 sec. leaned, 29 sec. leaned with rudder, and 27 sec. level.
>Being heavier your times for level measures will probably be slower. You
>should still be able (with practice) to learn to turn with a strong lean
>close to as much faster than your level time as I could do under my level
>time. The fact that you sink the kayak deeper will limit your lean angle
>where the cockpit goes under. If you have a spraydeck on you could lean it
>as much as I do. BTW I weight 190 pounds.

As I said, something to work on when the water is warmer.
>
>Someday I might put the whole thing on the web but it probably won't happen
>until after I retire. Right now you can find the numbers for our all Mariner
>kayaks about 3/4 of the way through the paddling manual on our website. We
>put them there to give our customers some times to shoot for in an effort to
>get them to become better and safer paddlers.

The glimpse into those times that you've given us -- after all, all by the
same tester does level out some variables -- has given me a new perceptive
on turning vs. tracking. Thanks much!

-- Wes


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Received on Sun Nov 26 2000 - 09:19:17 PST

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