It is awfully enticing to look for blanket statements or generalized rules-of-thumb for determining stability by inspection of hull shape. Unfortunately, it is not that easy. "V" bottoms can be stable or unstable. Flat bottoms can have high initial stability, but low secondary. Round bottoms can have any stability characteristic you want. This is because stability is largely a function of what happens right at the water surface. The bottom shape will have little effect until it is at the water surface. Stability is also a function of the height of the center of gravity. Bottom shape will only effect this to the extent that it permits the seat to be placed low or high in the boat. On Aug 19, 2005, at 9:31 AM, Mark Arnold wrote: > In response to previous post on a Frenzy I went to the Ocean Kayak > site to check out some sizing info. While there I wandered over to > their kayak design section and found some info on hull shape. My > reading of what they wrote was > > Flat bottomed kayaks are less initially stable in flat water than V > bottomed kayaks. > Flat bottomed kayaks have more secondary stability than V bottomed > kayaks. > Flat bottomed kayaks are more stable in surf than V bottomed kayaks. > A "U" shaped bottom is equated to a flat bottom. I would think "U" > would be a rounded hull and be more on the other sided of > stability from a "V" hull rather than same as a flat bottom. > > This does not seem to go with what I remember reading about hull > shapes. Is my memory bad, did I mis-read what was on the Ocean > Kayak site, or is their information contrary to conventional > thinking.? > > Would appreciate any thoughts on the matter. > > Note: I was going to copy their exact comments into this message, > but did not because of potential copywrite problems. Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 824 Thompson St Glastonbury, CT 06033 USA Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847 http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Aug 24 2005 - 07:05:47 PDT
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