RE: [Paddlewise] Wing paddle and hull speed was (Re: Who Took Shaun White Sea Kayaking?)

Craig



Using the Greenland paddle with the wing stroke might take care of the
flutter. The other option is to use the greenland paddle with the top edge
forward so it dives when you pull on it (in a low angle stroke) and then
adjust the angle a bit so it climbs back to the surface for the exit. Having
it slice sideways through the water is likely to keep it stable and the only
flutter will be the one to reverse direction and bring it back to the surface.
That's the theory anyhow.



The Escape has a very high hull speed for its length and has more frictional
drag than the other Mariners so it might be better than the Mariner II for the
test. The Mariner II might be the best of the rest of your kayaks (or the
outright best of your kayaks for your test) but something like a Seda Glider
or CD Expedition has both a higher hull speed and more frictional drag, that
might prevent you from pushing it at hull speed even during a much shorter
sprint paddle (at least until you get into top shape). Run the ests on the
same no wind day. As the lake warms up you will get faster. A ten degree F.
higher temperature reduces drag about 2.5% because the warmer water is less
viscous. best to make shorter runs on a fixed course on the same no wind day
to limit the variables that might effect the results. You need to push all out
or keep constant track of your heart rate to assure you are putting equal
energy into each run. Stay out of any water less than 6 or 7 feet deep or wave
drag on the bottom may affect your results (essentially reducing the hull
speed of the kayak as the waves you make feel the bottom and slow down,
creating the very hull speed problem we are trying to avoid).



You pretty much identified the downsides to the wing paddle. Add that it only
does one forward stroke well (and only then if you are pulling hard) and that
in a stern draw it tends to want to dive under the boat unless you cock your
wrist back to an extreme angle and I think you will have most of the negatives
covered. The later is especially annoying using a rudderless kayak.


Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:56:32 -0800
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Wing paddle and hull speed was (Re: Who Took Shaun
White Sea Kayaking?)
From: crjungers_at_gmail.com
To: marinerkayaks_at_msn.com
CC: paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net



I could use the Express. The big Nimbus is kind of beamy for a good wing
stroke (as is the F-1). But I think I can push the Express to hull speed
easier than the Mariner II.

My short course is about 1.5 (statute) miles (we are inland and on a lake,
after all) and my long course is about 2.3 miles. They depend on whether I cut
through a grass island (shallow and slow) or not. I often do that just to
check out the birds nesting in the island. Otherwise the long-course line from
my dock runs 1/4 mile to the cut under the I-90 freeway and then straight to
the turn-around (a distinctive rock that rises above the water) and back.

I am pretty sure that even if I were in the best shape ever I couldn't push
the Mariner II to hull speed for over 2 miles; even statute miles.... with any
paddle. What I'd like to be is in good enough shape physically so that a week
of test paddling doesn't improve me significantly in that time period. I don't
want to be in better shape by the time I get to the third paddle than I was at
the first paddle.

Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
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