Re: [Paddlewise] Baidarka vs. Greenland speed

From: Nick Schade <schade_at_guillemot-kayaks.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 09:58:01 -0500
I don't see anything inherently faster in a "baidarka" than a 
"greenland" design. The terms are too general. It is like saying 
kayaks are faster than canoes and then expecting a Keowee to beat an 
Olympic sprint canoe. It is the design of the specific example that 
matters, not the arbitrarily determined style of design they fall 
into.

While "baidarkas" tend to have fuller ends than "greenland" designs, 
there is no universal law forcing that to be the case. If you want a 
"greenland" boat with a rounder bottom, just design and build it that 
way. The design of the hull is under the control of the designer, 
what is above the waterline is just styling. Many different styles 
can be attached to the same efficient below-water hull shape. Most of 
this styling will have little or no effect on the flat-water speed of 
the boat, beyond the differences in weight and windage you might get.

If you want a fast kayak, work on a good hull shape and then feel 
free to style it as you see fit. The boat shape above the waterline 
will effect handling in rough water, but the modeling software does 
not try to predict this.


At 2:47 PM -0800 3/3/01, Matt Broze wrote:
>I'm sure the Baidarka would be faster, rounder bottoms and fuller volume
>ends underwater would be the major reasons.
-- 
Nick Schade
Guillemot Kayaks
824 Thompson St
Glastonbury, CT 06033
(860) 659-8847
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Received on Mon Mar 05 2001 - 06:58:27 PST

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