[Paddlewise] Re: [Paddlewise] A new way to teach the forward stroke?þþ

I wrote:
 
>>>>>Given that the double skull rowers were probably generating twice 
the horsepower (or watts) as the pedaler (and given that a double scull 
is faster than a single scull) the advantage of the pedal boat must have 
been in the much better efficiency of a screw propeller vs. oar blades 
for propulsion and the constant delivery of power from pedaling that 
could maintain a more uniform (and therefore more efficient than surging 
and slowing like the rowers) speed through the water.<<<<<, 

 
Niels misinterpteted it: 
>>>>I think there's something more to the non-uniform power of the rowers 
than just the gaps in their power-output. They slide back and forth in 
their boat, constantly pushing the boat over its hull speed and slowing 
back down with just their moving mass. That can't be good.
Perhaps rowers
shouldn't row in sync to avoid that problem - they'd just have to find a
way not to bump into each other and get their paddles tangled.<<<<<<








I had previously written on Paddlewise during this discussion:
>>>....because you don't want to let the kayak slow much between strokes
 because accelerating the kayak again requires a lot more energy than
 maintaining a given speed.<<<< Previously Niels had written this in response:>>>>Just accelerating and decelerating doesn't cost any energy, unless you 
put on the brakes. Look at a weight on a spring: It keeps bumping up and 
down forever.<<<<<<<
 
I had responded:>>>>We don't live in a vacuum. Drag due to friction is always putting on the
 brakes. You are more efficient travelling a given distance by going slower
 because there is less drag at a slower speed. But if you are trying to
 maintain a speed (even just 3 knots) with a paddle stroke you don't want
 to slow down much between strokes because accelleration is needed to get
 back up to above 3 knots again (to maintain the average of 3 knots). Even
 without the necessary accelleration effort to regain the lost speed the
 time spent going faster than 3 knots uses more energy resisting the
 greater drag than the time going slower than 3 knots does when your speed
 varies.<<<<< Niels, it looks like you have come around to my point of view and have discovered
 accelleration loses (and are now using it to critique something I wrote because I didn't
 spell it out again in detail but only implied it).  
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