[Paddlewise] Boat Trim discussion

Matt:
> having heavy gear located in the centre of the boat, and leaving
 the ends light...This factor is usually way overblown...
> I usually put the water right behind my seat so
> as to keep it as close to the center as possible.
Sounds like you take some account of the light end idea.

> You didn't say which kayak you own but it may be just as extreme as any
> Mariner (if my guess is correct).
No guess necessary, as posted several times, a Nadgee Expedition. What is
the hull design history of this boat?
Perhaps both Mariners and the Nadgee are unusual sea kayaks if they
share the quality of having the centre of gravity of the empty boat
significantly away from the point at which level trim would be measured.
I think quite a lot of boats would have it closer, but after this
discussion,
I will be taking note when picking up kayaks.

> Possibly you yourself have an out of trim kayak when empty.
Since we haven't really pinned down what trim means, this is
hard to establish. You mean trim when a boat floats level as measured
by a level parallel to the keel at or just forward of the seat? If so,
"trim"
is not defined by the distribution of mass of the kayak when carried.
It just means level at a certain point. Isn't a vessel trim when it floats
at the intended waterline?

>I think you are making this all too complicated.
I keep it simple really. I just balance the loaded kayak at around the
middle
of the cockpit. I pick it up to test that.

> The question is how to load a kayak for best all around
>performance considering the conditions one might be exposed to.
Do you try and load differently for different conditions?
I am not attracted to that. Conditions change during a day's
paddling.

> I'd determine the ideal trim with some experimentation with
> different loads in different conditions. Then I'd try to repeat the
loading
> that made the kayak handle the best in the worst of conditions.
Well, I'd just get the thing level, without using a level.
Cheers, PT
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