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Kayak and Canoe Design Bulletin Board
Re: Dynamic versus static weight
Posted By: Nick Schade In Response To: Re: Dynamic versus static weight (Berkeley C.)
Date: Saturday, 14 August 1999, at 11:13 a.m.
> Nick: you are a veritable font of information. A very interesting site
> indeed. It looks like I'm better off putting my time into paddling and
> technique than the endless quest for lighter (and weaker) layups.Your first priority if you want to be competative as a racer is to get your motor running efficiently. If you can not maintain top output throughout the race you won't win. Then get your technique in order. If you are sloppy with your paddle you won't win. Then get a good kayak design. If you are in good shape and have good skills you might be able to win if you have a "slow" design, a good design will make winning easier. Once you are consistently finishing in the lead pack, work on saving weight a few pounds might make the few boat lengths difference you need to win. Weight is only important if you are already competative.
Last year my Fast Double did a 21+ mile race in 2:46 hours with two competative paddlers, this year it did the same race in 4 hours with strong but less skilled paddlers (one experienced paddler, one rank novice). Three years ago a friend and I did the same race in 3:15 hours. We were both experienced but not that strong.
The boat was the same in all cases. It was the motor that changed. If you want a fast boat, get a fast motor.
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Kayak and Canoe Design Bulletin Board is maintained by Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks with WebBBS 5.12.
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