Re: [Paddlewise] paddlefloat photo

Michael Daly wrote:
> 
> From: "Peter Rathmann" <prathman_at_attbi.com>
> 
> > water movement, but that is also a question of design details.  If you
> > believe that a properly fitted sea sock could add to stability in a
> > flooded boat, then similarly fitted internal
> > sponsons/bulkheads/'whatever you want to call them' can certainly do the
> > same thing. As you said before, the water can't tell the difference.
> 
> I wouldn't say that it adds to stability.  It minimizes the reduction of stability.
I agree and that's why I said earlier that "there can be designs that
have high initial stability but are also affected relatively little by
flooding".  I never said they would not be affected at all - just
affected less than a similar boat without the internal flotation spaces.

In the above statement I said it 'adds to stability in a flooded boat.'
In that case the stability has already been greatly reduced by the
flooding and adding in the flotation space can restore some of that lost
stability.
> 
> In general, what you say is true, however, I've been thinking in terms of the
> sponsons that I've been seeing in real kayaks.  These tend to be small.
> 
> I think there's been a difference in perspective between me and others, including
> yourself.  I've been taking a sort-of pragmatic, "is it good enough?" view considering
> kayaks I've seen or paddled, whereas others have been saying "does it happen at
> all?" with atypical or theoretical kayaks.  ...
> I can't imagine taking my Ellesmere and adding internal flotation that would
> have a great effect.  There's little room between the seat and the hull on the
> sides.  I could take up volume around my legs, but it would have to be
> planned with ease of entry and exit in mind.  In the end I doubt that a
> significant improvement in flooded stability would be there.  An improvement,
> but not significant enough for me to bother.  If you're talking about a kayak
> with a 28 inch beam, that would be different, but that's not a typical kayak.

Since one of my kayaks has a 37" beam and another is 31", there is
plenty of space to fit substantial amounts of flotation space although
the manufacturers have not seen fit to do this. So for those boats I am
considering this both from a theoretical and practical perspective.

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