[Paddlewise] Semi-submersible Drill Rigs - and Reserve Buoyancy

From: Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca>
Date: Fri, 02 Feb 2007 16:28:45 -0800
Craig posted (snip):
>So the idea behind a semi-submersible is to have two hulls provide the 
>major buoyancy and put them well below the action of waves. Then build a 
>platform over those that sits high enough out of the water to do the actual 
>work.<

Craig, on the issue of actual reserve buoyancy: I wonder how important it is 
to sea kayaking and one's sea kayak specifically. Certainly, it would seem a 
beefier paddler in a kayak rated for a lighter person (when loaded), seems 
to be at a disadvantage from what I've read in various references to this 
issue in unrelated literature over the years. Loss of boat control, 
submerging, wet rides, loss of freeboard catching waves with negative 
consequences, etc.

In my own experience, my heavier kayak is less prone to indiscriminant 
sideways movement when traversing close to shoreline along gnarly sections. 
Certainly, the roughest hurricane-force paddling I did in the 80"s was fully 
aided and abetted by placing 200 to 400 pounds of rocks distributed in the 
storage compartments, using small rock. It was the only way to provide 
momentum through the raging seas, submarining through many a steep waveface, 
keeping the kayak relatively horizontal in both planes.

Doug Lloyd (who's horizontal in bed for the next two - if I can last that 
long - weeks awaiting valve, bypass, and possible aortic repair)
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Received on Fri Feb 02 2007 - 16:30:45 PST

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