On 7/2/07, Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_greatlakeskayaker.ca> wrote: > > Craig Jungers wrote: > > > I think that there are other factors that could have resulted in such a > > large difference. Prevailing winds, for one thing. > > How? If the winds affect the ruddered kayak, they affect an unruddered > kayak. An unruddered kayak might perform poorly in following seas compared to the same kayak with a deep draft rudder. Then again, maybe it was just that he could concentrate on his stroke. Repeat his test, collect some data, and see for yourself. > But you claimed Caffyn's data stands on its own. Clearly it doesn't. Clearly it does. It's data. It's recorded. It's not opinion or hearsay. It needs someone to go out and repeat it. It might bear further analysis. But it doesn't need unjustified opinions. > This is exactly what John's on about - the data is not collected > properly. Caffyn hasn't isolated the rudder from other effects. > Caffyn's subjective observations in the absence of any controls (like > objective measurements, a kayak that doesn't need a rudder etc) means > nothing to a person looking for an objective assessment of the > performance of rudders. Caffyn was not setting out to do a study on rudders. He was trying to make his circumnavigation of Australia and the data was a byproduct of that trip. But it was not opinion or anecdotal. It's valid empirical data. It makes a starting point for those who would like to investigate this subject further. What he doesn't deserve is a small cadre of anti-rudder paddlers second-guessing him because, in their opinion - and, apparently *only* in their opinion, he was wrong. If you don't like what his data appears to say go get some data of your own to refute it. Just criticising it on the basis that he had no "control" (I would think that his kayak prior to the rudder was a pretty decent control, actually) or that the kayak itself is faulty or that it was just a story is both unfair to Paul Caffyn and to the paddling community at large. It seems to me that there are plenty of knee-jerk reactions to this subject but damn few people - other than Matt and Caffyn and perhaps some of the racing consortiums - with anything other than anecdotal evidence. Craig Jungers Royal City, WA *************************************************************************** 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 Mon Jul 02 2007 - 10:07:27 PDT
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