RE: [Paddlewise] Baidarka Stern

--- Peter Treby <ptreby_at_ozemail.com.au> wrote:
> I don't understand this, probably due to complete
> lack of any experience
> with a baidarka, but...
> Why does a flexible boat with a blade at its stern
> not broach, but a rigid
> boat with such a stern broach ridiculously?

Dear Peter, 
First, any kayak will broach given the right
conditions, so excuse my hyperbole.  The "blade at the
stern" is not the key element I had in mind-- its the
wide truncated stern; essentialy a highly buoyant mass
right at the stern.  In a following wave, this buoyant
stern will get lifted quite easily which will cause a
tendency for the bow to submerge.  This tendency for
the bow to get submerged (adding to the potential of
broaching) is dampened considerably with a
longitudinally flexible hull (pitching specifically). 
With a flexible hull, the stern can get lifted without
the bow being forced under.   It is merely "less of a
tendency"-- using 'riducously' was hyperbole, borrowed
from a previous post. 

> I would guess a baidarka stern would hold the stern
> a little in a following
> sea, and allow the bow to swing down-wave, and that
> would happen whether the
> boat has flex or not.
> What actually happens with a replica baidarka?

Briefly, they tend to snake over the water's surface
instead of lunging and plunging into and over waves. 
Is it better?  I'm not sure-- it may have some
drawbacks and it may have some advantages.  It is
however a very interesting sensation and challenges
many a concept of how a vessel interacts with dynamic
conditions.
Best, 
Harvey 
http://www.traditionalkayaks.com/Kayakreplicas/VK228fullsize.html
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