Re: [Paddlewise] Rudders redux

On 7/2/07, John Winters <jdwinters_at_eastlink.ca> wrote:

> > Caffyn recorded a nearly-33% increase in daily mileage with a rudder
> > compared to no rudder.
>
> This is really interesting. Matt reports that the rudder adds 10%
> additional
> drag.
>
> Who is right? Matt and Craig, how do you explain this? Are both of you
> right?


Well it's certainly possible for both of these to be right. The towed tests
simply measured drag; more or less competently depending upon who is to be
believed.

Caffyn's data simply measured miles paddled in the same boat with a rudder
compared to miles paddled in the same boat without a rudder on a per-day
basis. Of course, it was a lot of miles and a lot of days.

Neither gives a full answer. But then nothing gives a full answer. No matter
how closely you examine a subject there are still questions. The very
essence of chaos.

It is, of course, the factors that we don't know that make up the
difference.

The data in each is simply the data. More is almost always better. It's for
this reason that I wish more people would do as Caffyn did.

But, Matt's expertise notwithstanding, my gut feeling is that I can move my
kayak faster from point-to-point by using the rudder than I could without.
That's not to say that Matt could.


> I wonder what kind of statement Caffyn would make if he had paddled a
> Mariner XL around Australia. :-)
>

Perhaps we could talk him into it. :)

Craig Jungers
Royal City, WA
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