Re: [Paddlewise] paddlefloat photo

From: "Peter Rathmann" <prathman_at_attbi.com>

> It's impractical to make a boat with interior sponsons that are as
> effective at controlling water movement as in this hypothetical case,
> but to the extent that they keep interior water from sloshing to the
> sides of the boat they will certainly aid the stability relative to a
> boat of the same shape that lacks internal sponsons.  

True, but the effect may be small and only kick in a higher angles of heel.
I'm not sure that the effect would be enough to brag about.  Having
deliberately flooded a couple of kayak in a pool, I know that the reduction
of stability is tremendous and I don't think a sponson's several liters of 
volume (compared to the, say 150+ liter cockpit volume) is going to make a
big enough difference.

A snug sea sock may be the alternative.  There the volume is constrained and 
if the sock can't slide sideways, the water is better constrained.  I've never
used a sea sock, so I can't say for sure.

Mike


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