Re: [Paddlewise] Paddle Physics

On 12 Jun 2003 at 8:56, Robert MacDonald wrote:

> Mike wrote:
> <Certainly, I refer to John Winters' published data on 
> paddles in "The Shape Of The Canoe" - in particular the results of lab
> tests that show the increase in efficiency with the reduction of
> aspect ratio.  >
> 
> I had a look at the articles in question, and all he presented there
> was a quick summary of his results.

Actually, some of those graphs include his and the work of others.  
He used to get involved in projects with the national and 
international canoe racing associations and shared data with other 
researchers.  

> We really need to get access to a test flume (like a wind tunnel, only
> with a stream of water, like a really long aquarium) to do a
> comprehensive test program. Any university types out there with
> access?  I know the University of British Columbia mechanical
> engineerng department had a couple. 

For the '76 Olympics in Montreal they constructed an all-season 
indoor training facility for canoe, kayak and rowing.  Beautiful and 
would be perfect for such testing.  However, they turned it into a 
warehouse after the Olympics.  Next time you hear politicians 
spouting crap about the "legacy" of spending billions of dollars in 
your neighbourhood for the Games, make sure you can string them up on 
the "legacy" after they trash it and all their promises.  

You could do some testing off a low dock in a calm bay.  Trickier is 
finding a dock on a river with an appropriate current to simulate the 
moving kayak.  

Another possibility is finding a university that has project courses 
for final year undergrad students and are willing to donate the 
facility in exchange for you working with the students to analyze the 
paddle behavior.

Mike

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