Re: [Paddlewise] Pygmy Arctic Tern

Alex Ferguson a.ferguson_at_chem.canterbury.ac.nz responded:

>>>>>>Draw a curve through the line that the multi-panel takes and it will
be lower all the way unless the original design had the sides too high
which seems to be a criticism that I keep hearing from builders of North
American designs.

I have size 12 feet and I want the deck to be higher and wider out where my
feet stick up. A low flattened transverse curve does not fit the curve of my
toes nearly as well (and also stay out of my way during the paddle stroke).
The multi-chine deck of a regular Pygmy Arctic Tern fits me (6'1" x 195
pounds) just about right. Those with smaller feet may be more suited to a
lower deck but they will also be cutting into the gear storage room and it
is likely to make for a wetter ride in waves and the kayak may weatherhelm
more. However it will likely be easier (all other things being equal) to
turn into a high wind. Turning into a wind is a characteristic even more
important to a smaller paddler. This is the main reason I brought up the
Arctic Tern 14 in the first place. It is a smaller quicker turning kayak
than the Osprey (being considered) and is likely to be more suitable in fit
and windage as well for a smaller paddler (at least if she can do without as
much gear room. I advise married women to get a smaller kayak and then her
husband will have to carry a heavier gear load and then be easier to keep
pace with. Most husbands would prefer to take the bulk of the gear if it
would speed up their partner. There are occasional exceptions where the wife
is the stronger paddler. One guy who kept falling back on a long Baja trip
was blaming his very wide kayak. He switched with his partner one day to use
her sleeker kayak. He said he wasn't quite as far behind that day.

I previously wrote:    "BTW, there only needs to be two panels to get a
longitudinally curved deck
center line." Due to what was being discussed in context before (just below)
I misinterpreted

>Regarding CLC v. Pygmy, I think Pygmy's multi-chined decks are more
>attractive: by using several panels, they are able to get a deck with
>positive sheer (the curve between the stem and the stern, like a banana).
>Try holding a sheet of stiff paper in an arch, like a deck, and now try to
>bend it on the other axis at the same time.

Alex's comments (below here) to be talking about the number of panels of
plywood needed to make the foredeck curve longitudinally at its centerline.

>Alex responded:
> >>>>>With a curved deck you can still get a sheer line though the
centreline
>won't "dip". If it does you either have the ends too high or the deck too
>low to get into the cockpit. A curved deck is made up of (usually) 4
>pieces, one on the foredeck, one each side of the cockpit and one aft deck.

While that can certainly make for a curved sheerline, the centerline will be
a series of straight lines between each (transverse) arched panel no matter
how many you have used since the plywood panels are only going to bend in
one direction at a time.

Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com


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