[Paddlewise] How much is Alex lifting?

>>>>>Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 15:35:58 -0800 (PST)
From: Shawn Baker <shawnkayak_at_yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] How much is Alex lifting? (was: Kayak Trailers)

"al.m" <al.m_at_3web.net> wrote:
>What I can't figure out, is how much weight I'm lifting at
the stern, when the bow is already on the bar.  Should be a little less
then full 58 lbs, but more than half-weight,
<snips>
If you're holding the extreme stern of the kayak, maybe your grab
handle, and the bow is over the rack at the quarter point, then you'll
be lifting with a force of 33.6 lbs, and the rack will be supporting
22.4 lbs.<<<<

Are you sure about this? Think of it this way -- assuming uniform
distribution of the weight, if you hold one extreme end and:
(a)  The support bar is at the other extreme end, then you'd obviously each
be holding half the weight;
(b)  The support bar is dead-center (ie the balance point), then you'd be
holding zero weight.
Now, assuming that the support is at the one-quarter point [ie halfway
between (a) and (b)],  then you are essentially splitting the difference
between (a) and (b), or between 50% and 0% of the weight.  Assuming this is
a linear function (which I believe it is), then you'd logically be holding
25% of the weight or 14 pounds (assuming the total weight is 56 pounds).
But in any event, as long as you are holding one extreme end, the most you
could be lifting would be 50%, and as the bar moves towards the balance
point, the weight will be progressively less and less until you get to
zero.

Evan Dallas
Woodinville, Washington




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