Boat Building Forum

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Re: Other: Practical differences in length
By:Charlie
Date: 10/9/2008, 6:14 pm
In Response To: Other: Practical differences in length (Kudzu)

Comparing length and speed potential are common but, what I like to look at is the labor required to paddle a given boat.
Paddlers, or rowers for that matter,can only generate about ¼ HP for any length of time and then only if they are in shape. Anyone who anticipates going any distance in a paddle boat should think about maximizing the on-water benefits and and forgetting about the rest till later.
Longer waterline boats, generally have more speed but also more glide which will pay off big if you expect to spend many hours in a day pulling on a paddle. When you are out on the water paddling into a 20 MPH headwind and you have a long way to go the last thing that will cross your mind is how nice it is to have a boat that fits into a closet or can be trucked around in the trunk of a Civic.
If you notice, native people tended to build boats fairly long even tho'it would have been a damned sight easier to build short. They knew how to read the tea leaves.

: What PRACTICAL difference is there in a long boat compared to a shorter boat?
: Is there really any noticeable difference for an average paddler at
: average speeds? I understand longer water line means a higher maximum (or
: maybe potential) top speed. But if you had two identical boats other than
: one being 2' longer is there really any noticeable difference at normal
: speeds? What advatages of disadvantages do boats have?

Messages In This Thread

Other: Practical differences in length
Kudzu -- 10/8/2008, 7:53 pm
Thanks, good info
Kudzu -- 10/11/2008, 12:33 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bill Hamm -- 10/11/2008, 1:55 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length *Pic*
Etienne Muller -- 10/10/2008, 3:28 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Carl Delo -- 10/16/2008, 1:03 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bill Hamm -- 10/16/2008, 2:18 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bill Hamm -- 10/12/2008, 1:35 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Ross Leidy -- 10/9/2008, 10:11 pm
And it's in your head too
Kudzu -- 10/11/2008, 12:32 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Scott Fitzgerrell -- 10/10/2008, 4:47 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Kudzu -- 10/9/2008, 10:22 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bill Hamm -- 10/9/2008, 7:38 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Charlie -- 10/9/2008, 6:14 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Aaron H -- 10/10/2008, 10:52 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Charlie -- 10/10/2008, 12:14 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Chris Sperry -- 10/9/2008, 10:55 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Aaron H -- 10/10/2008, 11:05 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Chris Sperry -- 10/10/2008, 11:41 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length *Pic*
Scott Fitzgerrell -- 10/10/2008, 4:43 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Chris Sperry -- 10/10/2008, 9:44 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Scott Fitzgerrell -- 10/11/2008, 4:55 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Aaron H -- 10/9/2008, 12:49 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Toni V -- 10/10/2008, 2:47 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Aaron H -- 10/10/2008, 10:24 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bryan Hansel -- 10/10/2008, 1:17 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Kudzu -- 10/9/2008, 12:59 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Don Lucas -- 10/9/2008, 10:13 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Kudzu -- 10/9/2008, 10:33 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Mike Savage -- 10/9/2008, 3:26 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bryan Hansel -- 10/8/2008, 11:38 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Kudzu -- 10/8/2008, 11:59 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bryan Hansel -- 10/10/2008, 9:01 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Brian Nystrom -- 10/9/2008, 6:27 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Toni V -- 10/9/2008, 1:59 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Paul G. Jacobson -- 10/9/2008, 12:45 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Paul G. Jacobson -- 10/8/2008, 10:46 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
HenkA -- 10/12/2008, 3:03 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Toni V -- 10/13/2008, 3:53 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bill Hamm -- 10/13/2008, 3:24 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bill Hamm -- 10/9/2008, 7:34 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length *Pic*
Clayton Plunkett -- 10/8/2008, 9:15 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Jerry -- 10/8/2008, 8:02 pm