Re: [Paddlewise] What is the "boat depth"?

alex <al.m_at_3web.net> asked:

>> Yes, superstructures above the deck like washboards or cockpit rim must
not be included. Additional "bottleneck" for big guys in folders is the fore
cockpit rib.What is, btw, the height from the  center of the hull skin to the
bottom of washboards in Kodiak, measured at the fore cockpit point: 16", 18"?
>>

Less than I thought.  And, maybe less useful than I thought.

I did not want to assemble my Kodiak, so I took the dimensions off the S-3
frame (more or less the "front" of the cockpit coaming if there were a trad.
hardshell coaming around my torso) and got:

12 inches from where the hull would be (1 inch below frame bottom) to __the
horizontal line__ connecting the two top ends of the frame

14.5 inches from where the hull would be (1 inch below frame bottom) to __a
point in the center where the frames would project the deck__ if their top
surfaces were extended to the center.  (This is approximately equivalent to
the typical way of measuring yak depth for hardshells:  top center front
underside of coaming to hull.)

The latter figure is in the "big boy" boat category, I believe, consistent
with the fact that I fit well into the Kodiak cockpit, with some padding on
the frames to prevent gouging of my thighs and knees.  For reference, the
corresponding measurement I just got off my Eddyline Wind Dancer is also 14.5
inches.

But this way of judging whether a yak will fit is suspect, because:

1. of the hull profile differences mentioned earlier,

2. cockpits differ in length (the WD has an enormously long cockpit),

and,

3. the height of the seat above the hull may differ, also.  (I removed the
stock seat and put in minicell in my WD, gaining an inch or so of depth at
the tush point -- greatly increasing my comfort and the initial stability of
the yak -- the CG being lowered substantially by getting myself lower.)

--
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR

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