Re: [Paddlewise] Skeg Jammers etc

Various comments on various posts in this thread:
> Good point.  If someone chooses to paddle solo in conditions which may
> require the use of a skeg or rudder they had better make sure that they
> employ a more important piece of equipment; their head, and  have the
> common sense to make sure that their boat is well maintained and
completely
> functional.
Undoubtedly true, but I hope this isn't being negative about solo paddling,
one of life's great pleasures. Ever heard of Murphy's law as applied to
skegs?

> Paul Caffyn ... is reported to have told Chris that if he didn't use a
Nordkapp
> >with a deep draft rudder he had no chance of succeeding. ... I remember
thinking what a silly comment by Paul,
You don't suppose Paul might have been a bit tongue in cheek, perhaps just
slightly less than rock solid adamant with that comment do you?

> If I had my rudder fitted (fell off years ago and I never put it back)
Of course it fell off, they all do at some time don't they?

 >I think it is useful to check the balance of the boat by lifting it.
 >Straddle the boat, grasp it under the coaming at the CoB point, and lift
 >slightly. If both ends come off the ground, OK.This makes sense, but the
trick is knowing where the COB is located.  Any
> thoughts?
Matt states the Centre of Buoyancy is near where your navel is. Drop a
perpendicular from your belly button and mark the seat with a waterproof
marker pen! In practice I am guessing that the location of the CoB along the
length of the kayak is around the same point as the Centre of Mass, which
may be wrong, but for most kayaks is probably OK for practical purposes.
Perhaps you could measure your kayak and put the data into a hull design
program, and have the CoB calculated.

> However, perception and reality can often be two different things. Until
we
> get some objective measured results with many different kayaks using both
a
> rudder and not using a rudder (by paddlers equally competent both ways) we
> don't have good data, only opinions.
Very true. Even if you have the same paddler try paddling in two different
boats in similar conditions, there are so many variables which are hard to
control that the trial will never be anything like a mathematical thought
experiment. Makes me wonder about those turning tests you conduct to compare
different boats. Perhaps one way to make trials better is to conduct many of
them. One thousand one mile downwind runs over the same measured course in
each boat tested, say. Since that sort of thing is so laborious it won't be
done, we only have subjective impressions of kayak performance to go by. I
wonder if an analysis of sea kayak race results would be useful. Perhaps
one-design sea kayak races, the same hull, variously fitted with rudder,
skeg, or none. Nordkapp racing as an Olympic demonstration sport? Go Dougie!
The starters will give you an excellent weight-for-age handicap.

> With kayaks that don't weather helm you probably ought to store the first
10
> to 20 pounds in  front of ones feet (if there is a possibility of extreme
> winds blowing off shore anyway) but after that the next 40 pounds should
go
> into the rear so you won't induce weather helm unnecessarily with a bow
> heavy trim.
Hey Matt, this is a little different to your recommendation to simply put
twice the load in the rear as the front.
I think the loading and balancing has to depend upon the particular boat. I
still don't like loading differently for different conditions. You may load
up for a downwind run, say, and then want to return upwind. Or, the wind may
swing.

> Lifting the kayak to test the balance only works with light loads and/or
strong backs.
I suppose there is some back damage risk. If I can do this, I am sure many
kayakers can. You only need lift the boat slightly to check the balance.
Although I haven't tried this, two paddlers should be able to pass a 2''
sling under the boat and lift to check the balance point. It may be possible
to balance the boat on a log if there is one. A check is better than finding
the boat misbehaving out on the water.

>I'm usually very lightly loaded (day trip) or quite heavily  loaded
(overnight and longer trips) there doesn't seem to be much middle ground.
The middle ground is the FULLY equipped day trip. Folding chairs, coffee
brewing, cameras, tripods, novels, tarps, groundsheets, clothing for all
occasions, radio, six pack, crackers, dips... :-)
Cheers, PT
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