Mike wrote: >>>>Matt, do you have the numbers for the GT for comparison? Its extra beam is often offered as a reason for its easier turning. The wider midsection is supposed to allow the keel to be lifted easier and aid in turning. I've noticed a difference, but haven't seen anything like an objective test.<<<<<<<< GTS 22 sec. leaned 43 level GT 14 sec. leaned 34 level (15 leaned with full rudder) GT XL 17 sec. leaned 32 level (20 leaned with full rudder) The GT was done in fresh water in April 93 (estimate 50 degrees) the GTS and GT XL were done in salt water in (Sept. 99 and 01--estimate temp about 50 degrees). Salt to fresh water density differences tend to cancel out as the kayak floats higher to compensate. However, there is about a 2.5% difference for each 10 degrees of water temperature difference due to the greater viscosity (stickiness) of colder water that I have to factor in if comparing or analyzing the raw data. The extra beam of the GT's certainly helps and (at least partly) for the reason you heard. Also I might be able to lean the wider kayak more before water would pour into an uncovered cockpit (which is the maximum I lean during the test--if I can do that much without excessive risk of capsizing given the cockpit bracing situation--because that way I can compare a kayak even though I don't have a spraydeck to fit it. Given the same width cockpit I could most likely lean the GT more because of the wider middle too. Several other factors could be involved as well such as more rocker or shallower angles at the keels but just the one proposed to you could account for this difference. I noted it was windy the day I tested the GT (but not the GT XL). Wave action might have sped up the GT's leaned turn a little bit (and with a stiff tracking boat I'd do the test at an angle where the wind might help me do less work rather than more--but I think without waves, in general, a wind slows me down a bit especially with the level turns). The wind might have slowed the level turn somewhat especially if I had to turn the bow into it at any point during the 180. Even if I avoided that the stern would be slowed when I was more sideways to the wind. I get real tired of stiff tracking boats when faced with testing many of them in a row through three 360 degree spins and three 180 degree turns with each kayak one after the other. Probably the reason I didn't test the turn with the rudder down with the GTS was that I didn't feel like putting my all into another long hard (but slow) turn again right away (although sometimes I don't get rudder down data because the rudder is broken or the pedals have become jammed with sand on beach demo days). Sometimes I cheat a bit with the real slow turning boats. I spin a 180 in place and multiply by two. I always do a full 180 on all the "at speed" turns though. I also count strokes on the spins but I have found that strokes can vary a whole lot more than the time will when testing the same kayak repeatedly. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** 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 Jan 16 2002 - 18:42:11 PST
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