The research team wanted to find out what role the dolphin's skin played in reducing 'form drag' - the pressure of water against the skin. Dolphins have extremely soft, flaky skin which they shed every two hours. By modelling how the water flows over the flakes, and how they are eventually shed, the research team was able to conclude that the softness of the skin does reduce friction. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/05/18/dolphin_skin/ Jim et al *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
If the Inuit had known this a lot of seals might still be in their skins. On 5/11/2010 10:12 AM, James Farrelly wrote: > The research team wanted to find out what role the dolphin's skin played in > reducing 'form drag' - the pressure of water against the skin. Dolphins have > extremely soft, flaky skin which they shed every two hours. By modelling how > the water flows over the flakes, and how they are eventually shed, the > research team was able to conclude that the softness of the skin does reduce > friction. > > > http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/05/18/dolphin_skin/ -- Steve Cramer Athens, GA http://www.savvypaddler.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
So how long do we suppose a reasonable kayak hull would last? On Tue, May 11, 2010 at 10:12 AM, James Farrelly <JFarrelly5_at_comcast.net>wrote: > The research team wanted to find out what role the dolphin's skin played in > reducing 'form drag' - the pressure of water against the skin. Dolphins have > extremely soft, flaky skin which they shed every two hours. By modelling how > the water flows over the flakes, and how they are eventually shed, the > research team was able to conclude that the softness of the skin does > reduce friction. > > http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/05/18/dolphin_skin/ *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Carey Parks wrote: > So how long do we suppose a reasonable kayak hull would last? > > On Tue, May 11, 2010 at 10:12 AM, James Farrelly <JFarrelly5_at_comcast.net>wrote: > >> The research team wanted to find out what role the dolphin's skin played in >> reducing 'form drag' - the pressure of water against the skin. Dolphins have >> extremely soft, flaky skin which they shed every two hours. By modelling how >> the water flows over the flakes, and how they are eventually shed, the >> research team was able to conclude that the softness of the skin does >> reduce friction. Good question; pretty much has to be a living thing to regenerate skin at the rate these guys lose it. If a kayak with ablative skin smells like most marine mammals, we might become very unpopular in restaurants, and never get laid, either! -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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