RE: [Paddlewise] Stability & comfort - was Evolution Kayaks

Nick wrote: -
>For more discussion on the subject I have an
>article on my website:
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/Design/StabilityArticle.html

Matt wrote: -
>I like a progressive secondary stability that
>doesn't peak until a large angle of lean combined
>with a low initial stability. Effortless to lean
>at first but much more secure feeling when leaned
>than a kayak with high initial stability (or one
>with low initial and low secondary stability).

G'Day Dave, John, Nick, Matt, Robert et al,

Your explanations were appreciated. And Nick that web page of yours is an
excellent, clear description of stability curves, thank you! I strongly
suspect that in the wooden chined boat I am confusing the feel of initial
stability with the feel of secondary stability.

PS Three Days Later

I started to write this email on Friday and since then have been surfing in
the wooden chined boat and can confirm that the effect I was experiencing
was one of high initial stability. Also the feeling of conscious effort
required to keep the boat vertical disappeared after a couple of days so I
guess it was just a question of getting used to the boat.

Was it important? Well not as much as lack of volume in the bow and its
tendency to submerge, as I can attest after a number of spectacular endo's,
some of which I survived. Only time I've ever had a crowd on the shore
cheering and it was all by accident!

Anyway the subsequent discussion on stability is keeping me off the streets
and I'm particularly interested in trying to understand Robert Livingstone's
point on the nebulous nature of secondary stability. Its going to take a
while to think through all the correspondence though.

But I really appreciate your debate,

All the best, PeterO
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