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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Re: Another SPEED question...
Posted By: Karl In Response To: Another SPEED question... (Petewp)
Date: Monday, 17 March 2003, at 12:42 p.m.
: In my 18'x 22" multichine I cruise comfortable at about 4.1 mph. Just
: for comparison, if I got one of the skinniest surf skis out there - how
: much faster would I go for the same effort?Pete, there are some other variables at work. Example- I have been coaching someone who wants to do well at the San Juan Challenge, using a GP. Given his goals of performance, I suggested trying a wing paddle. After a many weeks of training, and despite his improvement(in a faster boat than mine;he is using a Kirton racing sea kayak), I could still easily pull away. Untill I gave him my wing to try. The difference in performance so wowed him, he ordered a wing paddle the next day.
As to boats- you may be surprised, but you may only get about 1, maybe,maybe, 1.5kn more speed for the same effort while using a fast surfski. The big difference is when you approach calculated hull speed. More than likely, you would hit a wall in your current boat that no amount of effort will make it go faster. In many surfskis, I can maintain 6.5 to 7kn for fairly long distances,in flat water.
But...surskis are made to hit speeds of 15+kn while surfing, not surf, but ocean swell. What this means is that in flat water, the length of a surfski could work against you. Too much wetted surface(drag). If you really want to feel an amazing lack of resistance at human powered speeds, check out a flat water sprint boat. Only 17' long, but outrageously low resistance,that is, if you keep it upright. They make surfskis feel like barges.
Try it, have fun, expect to get wet.
karl
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