[Paddlewise] Ballast and Trim

PeterO asked:
>>>>>>>Can anyone tell me whether ballast in the rear improves the
performance in a
following sea - I'm wondering if the fact I don't have a problem with a boat
that is supposed to have such a problem is because I'm putting some gear in
the rear hatch.<<<<<<

Peter and anyone else using ballast or loading gear may wish to read "WHERE
SHOULD THE SLIDING SEAT BE?" In our "Owners" manual on our website
www.marinerkayaks.com.  If you have the ability to move ballast you can
change the trim of the kayak significantly. It should be easy to convert
from moving the paddler (as we do) to moving ballast (moving a 150 pound
paddler back 6 inches would have about the same effect on trim as moving 30
pounds of ballast back 30 inches). There is also an explanation of which
direction to move weight for which conditions that is applicable to most
kayaks, not just ours. Our "Paddling " manual also discusses how (and why)
to distribute the weight when loading a kayak. BTW Peter, which kayak is it
you own that is reputed to paddle similar to an Icefloe?

Keith Rodgers wrote:
>>>>>>As for PeterO's question regarding ballast affecting a boat's handling
in
following seas, at the risk of straying way out of my area of expertise, I'd
guess that although 20 lbs properly placed behind the paddler can and will
affect side-to-side trim, its effect on fore-and-aft trim would be at best a
modest reduction in the bow's tendency to pearl.<<<<<<<

The effect of 20 added pounds could be quite pronounced if that much weight
was placed further aft or forward from the center.
Actually the placement of weight further back can sometimes increase a
kayaks bows tendency to pearl into head seas. The reason is that the bow
doesn't drop as soon going over a wave (with more in the rear of this
natural teeter-totter). That delay can mean the bow is dropping into the
trough with some momentum just in time to meet the next wave rising up
rather than being gently lifted by the wave if it had dropped sooner. If I
was adding weight to a kayak that handles pretty well already I'd put it
just behind (or under) the seat to keep it the closest to the center as
possible to maintain trim and maneuverability. If the kayak had a strong
weather helm in side winds or broached quickly in a following sea putting
the weight further back will help that kayak's handling (and will be well
worth the slight loss in maneuverability that will result). You will also
lose a little bit in top speed when out of trim to the rear but if you were
worried about speed you probably wouldn't have added the extra ballast
weight in the first place.

Kevin wrote:
>>>>>>It's a Valley Canoe Icefloe, 16'11" x 23 3/4"<<<<<

I don't believe that Valley Canoe ever made the Icefloe or any other of
Derek Hutchinson's designs. If it is an Icefloe it was most likely built by
P&H Fiberglass (or maybe McNulty Seaglass if it is older and 16'8" long with
a 7" hatch in back). A guy in SE Alaska (Dancing Bear I think he called his
co.) also built some back in the early 1980's. Probably there were some
other builders as well but I doubt any of Derek's designs were ever built by
Valley Canoe. Is there a Valley Canoe decal on it or maybe just VCP (Valley
Canoe Products) hatches?

Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com


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