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

That is a good question. It would be nice if all the manufacturers and
magazines could agree to use certain standard measurements. Sea Kayaker uses
all inside dimensions for all the cockpit data. The depth at the front of
the cockpit is from the bottom of the coaming edge in the middle to the
inside of the hull in the middle. This is also the dimension I try to keep
track of in my collection of data on kayaks (unless something else limits
the room ones shins have to slide under as may sometimes be the case with
the frame of a folding kayak). For one thing inside depth is usually very
easy to measure with a tape measure and, while not perfect, it gives one an
idea along with the inside cockpit length and width just how big a paddler
this kayak will fit. Unfortunately, most other sources of dimensions list
just what the manufacturer tells them are the kayaks dimensions. Some
manufacturers consider depth to be the maximum depth you could slide the
kayak through (from the bottom of the hull to the highest point on the
kayak--or at least the highest point near the middle of the kayak). Often
they measure the coaming length and width to the outside dimension adding 3
or 4 inches to cockpit length and width. I wish Canoe and Kayak and Paddler
magazine would get more specific about which depth they are asking
manufacturers for and would also adopt the Sea Kayaker inside dimensions
standard as the one. This would make my hobby of data compiler much easier.
Sometimes a kayak's advertised dimensions are up to 6 inches off in length
and an inch or more off in width even though what these overall dimensions
are supposed to measure is very clear. Sometimes the dimensions are rounded
to the nearest foot or inch. Sometimes I suspect the ad man wants to make
the kayak seem a little shorter or longer (or wider or narrower) than it is
because they think it will increase the market size for the kayak. Never
trust the ad men about a kayaks weight. I've seen up to 20 pound differences
between the ad man's fantasy and a scale. Except for the few times that they
recorded the length data a foot wrong you can pretty much trust that the
data from a Sea Kayaker review is accurately measured. if I measure the
length with a tape measure to be a little longer than Sea Kayakers measure I
record the Sea Kayaker measure as the most accurate one because I know they
drop a plumb line from the bow and the stern ends and measure flat on the
floor while I'm bending the tape over the cockpit etc. I trust my own width
measurements over any other source because I use big calipers to measure it.

I have not kept track of the depth at the back of the cockpit but I suppose
it could help one understand some things, such as, how easy the boat would
be to roll (but the top height of the cockpit back and its shape might be
better to know for this) or how big a hard cooler you could stuff under the
deck (if there was no rear bulkhead). I don't think this is nearly as
valuable dimension to a paddler as the inside front of the cockpit depth and
the inside length of the cockpit.

Matt Broze
www.marinerkayaks.com

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