Re: [Paddlewise] how do you do that, rudderless?

From: James Tibensky <jimtibensky_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2001 15:10:06 -0500
kcd said:

hi all,

ok, to "edge" in (ha ha) on the rudder/rudderless debate, i'll ask you
experienced paddlers a "how-to" question. etc...

I say:

I'm sure you'll get this answer from a lot of people, but I'll go ahead 
anyway.  Beamy boats are impossible to edge.  The very thing that makes you 
stable in dead water, the wide and flat bottom, gives you no ability to tilt 
the boat on edge.  True responsiveness only comes with a sportier boat.

Picture the wide, flat bottom on the water with the surface of the water 
flat to the horizon.  Now tilt that water 45 degrees, as on a wave.  The 
flat bottom is now tipped 45 degrees as well and nothing you do will change 
that.  The wide bottom does what the water does, it cannot do otherwise.  
When the wave curls past 180 degrees, your face is in the water.  If you 
have a rounder, narrower hull, your hips will tilt to compensate and you 
will be breathing air instead of water.

As your skills increase, as they will as you practice [you WILL practice, 
won't you?], you will graduate to a more responsive boat.  And some day 
you'll be amazed you ever liked that friendly-in-flat-water-only Queen Mary 
hull.

I hope!

Jim Tibensky

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp


***************************************************************************
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 Wed Sep 26 2001 - 13:58:42 PDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:44 PDT