Re: [Paddlewise] Hard chined hulls

Because there are some many variations of "hard chined" boats that 
have a wide variety of different performance characteristics it is 
impossible to generalize about them other than to say "Hard chined 
boats have hard chines." Beyond that you can always find an example 
of a boat that doesn't match the stereotype

For planing, it does help if the boat has fairly straight, flat 
buttocks lines at the stern that end abruptly like the stern of a 
speed boat. The sharp edge providing a place for the water to be 
released from the hull. It is easiest to create this shape with the 
hard edge at the chine. So if you really want a boat to plane well, 
it makes sense to at least have the stern half hard chined, but it is 
not required and not all hard chined boats will plane easily.

Tracking generally has more to do with the shape of the keel than the 
chine. The shape of the bow wave has more to do with the overall 
distribution of volume at the bow than the character of the chine.

The kind of chine is a bad predictor of boat performance. It is often 
used as an easy short cut to describe performance, but is typically 
inaccurate. The best predictor is getting in the boat and trying it. 
If it is fast, it is fast regardless of it's chine type.

>There has been a lot of discussion lately about different kayak
>designs. In Derek Hutchinson's "complete book of Sea Kayaking",
>he describes different hull designs, and their characteristics.
>On the subject of hard chined hull shapes, the description ha
>me a bit puzzled, because,  it is contrary to what a lot o
>kayak owners say about their hard chined kayaks.
>
>(From Derek Hutchinsons book "Complete book of Sea Kayaking")
>"The V-shaped or chine hull, the traditional shape of many
>Eskimo kayaks, gives directional stability as long as the amount
>of rocker is not excessive. However, with such a hull it is
>unfortunately almost impossible to maintain fast forward speeds
>because as the speed increases the boat tends to plane on the
>flat chines. The kayak thus retards itself on its own bow wave".
>(End of quote)
>
>I have read a number of reviews from the owners of hard chined
>kayaks that describe them as "Fast" (see paddling.net's reviews
>on Nigel Dennis's "Greenlander Pro" for instance).
>
>I would like to hear peoples thoughts on this, especially any
>kayak designers/builders, or people that own both hard chined AND rounded
>(or soft chined) kayaks. Do you agree? disagree?
-- 
Nick Schade
Guillemot Kayaks
824 Thompson St
Glastonbury, CT 06033
(860) 659-8847
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