Re: Fast sea kayak

Posted by Jim E on Dec 1, 2007

The waterline length hull speed rule is more of a soft limit for slender hulls. Single rowing shells are not planing when they go at 10 knots, but they are exceeding "hull speed" which would be around 7 knots for a 25 foot hull. The link below is to a Wikipedia discussion on hull speed, and its limitations.

So, racing kayaks are narrow to thepoint of instability because of this effect, as well as the reduced skin friction.

Those of us who do these things for excercise still want to go as fast as we can. I suppose that's human natire. Runners and cyclists are the same way.

In Response to: Re: Fast sea kayak by Charlie on Dec 1, 2007

Replies:

No Replies.