Kayak and Canoe Design Bulletin Board

Re: How long is too long?

Posted By: Hans Friedel
Date: Sunday, 10 October 1999, at 5:36 p.m.

In Response To: Re: How long is too long? (Steve McDonald)

> -----------------------------------------------------------------

> Maximum Effective Kayak Length:

> I built a series of 4 experimental flatwater racers that were basically
> the same design, but of different lengths. My weight was 188 lbs. + 32
> lbs. boat weight and a 2 lb.paddle. Total load: 222 lbs. The fastest and
> sweetest paddling was the first, at 18'4". As I attempted to make
> them faster by adding length, they only got progressively slower, with the
> 21'5" one being the slowest of all. I then proceeded to analyze the
> amount of wetted surface on these different designs and found that it
> increased greatly beyond the ideal length of 18'8", for my weight.
> The skin drag on the longer boats was greater and the extra length was a
> liability, not an advantage. I later designed an unlimited-class flatwater
> racer at 18'8" and it was faster than my 17' sanctioned boat. The
> ideal length and waterline beam needs to be changed in regards to the
> paddler's weight to achieve the fastest speed.

> You might wonder why single rowing shells are built at 27', with only an
> 11" beam. It is because of the shifting weight of the rower during
> the strokes and the need to have more length to keep the shell from
> squatting and porpoising around the lateral axis. A rowing shell with
> sliding oarlocks and footbraces and a stationary seat could be made
> shorter and faster.

> Steve McDonald Eugene, Oregon

Hi Steve

I am also interested in racers. If you use a performans program like the one you can find on Mariner kayak site. You dont need to build so many prototypes (unless you like to build). Whitch building method do you use Ply? stripp? something else? Can I see your boats somewhere on the Net?

Regards Hans

Messages In This Thread

How long is too long?
Tom Jarecki -- Thursday, 2 September 1999, at 4:16 p.m.

Re: How long is too long?
Mike Scarborough -- Friday, 3 September 1999, at 12:22 a.m.

Re: How long is too long?
Nick Schade -- Friday, 3 September 1999, at 2:07 p.m.

Re: How long is too long?
lee -- Friday, 3 September 1999, at 3:16 p.m.

go ahead and build a race boat
Brian T. Cunningham -- Friday, 3 September 1999, at 6:28 p.m.

Re: go ahead and build a race boat
Tom Jarecki -- Monday, 6 September 1999, at 9:04 p.m.

K1 Plans
Mike Scarborough -- Monday, 6 September 1999, at 9:54 p.m.

Re: How long is too long?
Hans Friedel -- Sunday, 5 September 1999, at 4:23 p.m.

Re: How long is too long?
Berkeley C. -- Thursday, 9 September 1999, at 3:35 p.m.

Re: How long is too long?
Steve McDonald -- Saturday, 9 October 1999, at 1:41 a.m.

Re: How long is too long?
Hans Friedel -- Sunday, 10 October 1999, at 5:36 p.m.

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