on 3/1/01 4:53 PM, Matt Broze at mkayaks_at_oz.net wrote: snip > took 40 seconds, the 12'6" Miniraid took 45 seconds. The fastest fiberglass > single sea kayak I've tested on this course (Seda Glider) took 34 seconds > and the average of 138 fiberglass and plastic North American touring/sea and > rec. designs I tested was 38 seconds. The 9'8" Stearns K-116 inflatable (~30 snip Matt, Can you explain a little about why the Seda Glider is faster than the other sea kayaks you have tested? Some day I'd like to build another skin boat just for use in local races. I'm wonder about the shape, width, and length. Narrow and rounded hulls are faster but how do I decide on the length? How much rocker? Which would be faster, a modified Baidarka design or a modified Greenland design? I know you could write a couple books answering these questions, and you don't have time for that, but maybe a few comments to cover some basics for us. I've always been interested in the speed question on Baidarka vs. Greenland design. Certain Baidarka fanatics claim these Aleut boats have an advantage. They quote Captain Cook and other mariners in the 1700's and 1800's who wrote about the speed of the Aleuts. I have a feeling the speed had as much to do with the physical strength and endurance of the Aleuts as it did with the design of the Baidarka. Imagine the result of many generations (over several thousand years) who's existence depended on a life at sea in the Baidarka. I believe George Dyson wrote an article for one of the science journals (does anyone have this information? I think it was Scientific American) in which he describes the bone structure of the Aleut. The muscle attachment locations on certain bones in the upper body were larger than normal which was an indication of larger upper body muscles. Well, Matt, if you could at least comment on the Seda Glider. Comments from anyone else on any of the above would be welcome. Okay, back to doing my taxes. Rex *************************************************************************** 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 Sat Mar 03 2001 - 11:06:13 PST
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