Kayak and Canoe Design Bulletin Board

Re: racing kayaks

Posted By: Jan Gunnar Moe
Date: Saturday, 10 July 1999, at 7:11 a.m.

In Response To: racing kayaks (Berkeley C.)

> I'm building a CLC Patuxent 19.5 for open water racing primarily, but I
> also paddle a Valhala racing surf-ski, a Pygmy Osprey,

Can you tell us a bit about your experience with the Pygmy Osprey? Is it the Osprey std or Osprey HP?

Did you consider stripbuilding a slightly faster round hull kayak?

If I was younger and was to participate in ocean kayak racing, I know what I would do. I would start with the design of Struer Fanger (more volume in front than Tracer, better in waves, although I find it difficult with waves from the side.) I would measure this boat station for station from tip to stern. Then I would create forms and increaste heigth in front to enable less diving in waves, and I would create a small cockpit hole, but stripbuild a high deck in front, so that knees might be kept high for forceful paddling, the Kirton Inuk should be my model for the front deck. Below water line I should keep design as close to the Fanger as possible. Of course this is not objective information. I love the easy speed and easy balance of Fanger when the water is flat, and I believe that the difficulties I have in Fanger when waves is because of lacking skills and fitness of the paddler.

There are quite some people that believes the Fanger to be the most successful of the Struer boats for what it is designed for. The reason why there is so little talk about Fanger is probably that it is not a racer winning flat water races, and not a sea kayak for expeditions, and not a beginners boat where you will feel safe the first times on the water.

Jan Gunnar

> Tracer flat-water racing kayak. I'm trying to figure out the various
> dynamics that go into speed. One thing that I'm unclear on is the concept
> of hull speed. As I understand it, hull speed is directly relative to
> waterline length. The Tracer is the shortest of the boats I paddle,
> accelerates the fastest and has similar top speed characteristics to the
> much longer Valhala. Why is that? Or am I not yet a strong enough paddler
> to realize the speed potential of the Valhala?

Messages In This Thread

racing kayaks
Berkeley C. -- Thursday, 8 July 1999, at 3:03 p.m.

Re: racing kayaks
Nick Schade -- Friday, 9 July 1999, at 1:22 p.m.

Re: racing kayaks
Jan Gunnar Moe -- Saturday, 10 July 1999, at 6:57 a.m.

Re: racing kayaks
Jan Gunnar Moe -- Saturday, 10 July 1999, at 7:11 a.m.

Re: racing kayaks
Berkeley C. -- Monday, 12 July 1999, at 2:20 p.m.

Racing Design used for major expedition (pointer)
Jan Gunnar Moe -- Saturday, 10 July 1999, at 7:32 a.m.

Re: Any racers/coaches out there?
lee -- Tuesday, 31 August 1999, at 11:28 a.m.

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