[Paddlewise] Baidarka bow styles

I have often read that it was not possible to build flared bows except by 
using the bifurcated bow.

Is it true? This morning after reading it again I went out to the garage and 
built a full size model of a skin bow (not the most sophisticated shape. I 
taped my frame together with duct tape as it was easier) wrapped it in 
canvas and then created a flared bow by attaching two sticks (one on each 
side of the bow and pulling them together with lacings through the boat. I 
then built a small frame inside and did the same thing by lashing through 
the canvas to the frame.

As builders of SOF boats know the covering tend to go concave in the bottom 
anyway so concavity is not the problem, it is just a problem with how to get 
it. Would the cover leak? Good question. No problem with canvas since we 
have great flexible sealants. My impression is that seal skins are tough 
stuff and the Inuit had excellent sewing skills and methods of sealing their 
skin joints. Maybe Harvey has some thoughts on this since he has built 
replicas using skins.

I found I could vary the amount of flare by varying the amount of excess 
material in the covering.

This is a whole lot easier than the more complex structure of the bifid 
bows.

Kind of neat. I wonder if the Inuit ever tried it. It would seem if the 
object were to achieve lift forward they would be practical and search for 
the easiest way to achieve it.

That led to another thought. Could some one calculate the lift forward from 
a bifid bow.

I have already calculated the volumes (easy to do) but the dynamic loads 
might be more challenging. The important factor would be the speed, angle of 
incidence, and whether the lower bow caused a reduction in impact by 
breaking up the wave before it hits the upper bow.

Cheers

John Winters
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