One method which would be quite easy although not as accurate is to paddle with a heart rate monitor and a speedometer. Try to maintain a constant speed and monitor your heart rate. Higher heart rate -> less efficient. Or try to maintain a constant heart rate and measure distance traveled over a given time. Longer distance -> more efficient. This will have errors due to how fit you are the day you do the test, but it would have the advantage of taking into effect the boat's roll in paddling mechanics. Some kayaks will be harder to paddle due to width, coaming height, seat height etc. The overall efficiency for a given paddler is related to how efficiently he or she can apply power to the water. As long as you use the same paddle this method should measure boat related efficiency. As I said, this method is probably not the most accurate, but the "instruments" are relatively inexpensive and available. A GPS can be used as the speedometer if you are paddling where there is no current. At 12:57 AM -0800 3/8/01, Matt Broze wrote: ><SNIP> > >In the mid to late seventies I started testing the top speed of kayaks over >a short course (next to a floating bridge out of the wind). Pushing as fast >as I could go for about a minute my times for the same kayak was very >consistent. This is a good way to test kayaks you want to use for racing, >but it won't tell you much about the kayak's efficiency at cruising speed >(the important parameter for a sea kayak). <Snip> -- Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 824 Thompson St Glastonbury, CT 06033 (860) 659-8847 *************************************************************************** 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 Mar 08 2001 - 06:19:57 PST
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