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) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 2/2/2007 4:40:53 PM Pacific Standard Time, douglloyd_at_shaw.ca writes: 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. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> This is an interesting comment. I used a spraydeck with a roll down bale hole that had a drybag style closure. Its intent is to be able to pump or retrieve small items with the deck still attached. A large wave broke right on top of me, punching through the *dry* bag style closure and completely filled my cockpit with water. The boat was behaving badly but being in the impact zone with one last set of breakers to get through I made the decision to try to bowl my way through them. The weight of the boat made driving through the last one quite easy. I never really got over the wave, but just plowed through. In retrospect I think I was lucky the wave wasn't a longer period wave and thus thicker. Cheers, Rob G *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> 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) My own (limited) experience is also that a kayak with a heavier load in it is more stable in waves than one with a lighter load. Harder to get going from a stop, harder to turn, but more stable. OT: Good luck with heart repairs, Doug!! My own problems are minuscule in comparison, having had angioplasty several years back with two stents inserted. -- Darryl *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Doug. I think that it all depends on what you want to do with the kayak. If you have to punch through several miles of crud to get someplace then your ideal boat is likely to be heavier and longer and more stable (certainly laterally). If you just want to get through 100 yards of surf and then 1/4 mile down to a rock garden then it's likely to be much different. What would a couple hundred pounds of rocks do to your kayak in terms of getting it back upright? Did you stuff them in tightly so there would be little movement. Otherwise the term "free surface effect" springs to mind. Hang in there!!! Craig Jungers Royal City, WA On 2/2/07, Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca> wrote: > > 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) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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