Re: [Paddlewise] Skin on Frame Boats

From: Nick Schade <nick_at_guillemot-kayaks.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2004 17:10:21 -0400
On Sep 23, 2004, at 11:36 AM, Gordin Warner wrote:
> "dents" or dimples built into them.  I'm sure I'm using the wrong word 
> here. The theory, as I understand it, is similar to the dimples on a 
> golf ball.  The indentations purpose is to break the solid plane of 
> water that flows continuously over a smooth hull surface.  This plane 
> of water creates friction.  Bust up the plane and there's less 
> friction.

Like many theories dent = dimples sounds good. But a kayak isn't a golf 
ball and the dents and dimples only have a superficial resemblance. 
This kind of theory is of the look-alike-work-alike class. Greenland 
paddles look like an efficient glider wing, therefore must be more 
efficient; SOF kayak dents look like golf-ball dimples; horseradish 
looks like male genitalia therefore it must be an aphrodisiac. 
Sometimes resemblance is just coincidental.

For something to work the same, it must actually work the same. 
Horseradish is not genitalia and kayaks don't fly spinning through the 
air. This is not to say the SOF dents don't do good things, it is just 
that what ever they do has nothing to do with golf balls dimples.

Nick Schade

Guillemot Kayaks
824 Thompson St
Glastonbury, CT 06033
USA
Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/
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Received on Thu Sep 23 2004 - 14:10:38 PDT

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