Rocker
When it comes to rocker, you are either on or off !
rocker
Or check the manuf specifications on their websites.
meaningless
as there are no conventions for measuring rocker. Different mfrs can have the same numbers and radically different hull bottom curves.
Nice addition to Sea Kayaker reviews?
I think it would be a nice addition to Sea Kayaker Magazine reviews, along with photos of the bottom of kayaks included alongside the photos of the top and side, with appropriate lighting to show off the curves of the bottom.
2 dummies designed to be an average weight distribution for a 150 lb and 200 lb paddler, for example, to kind of go along with their stability chart. Base it on the dummy in the kayak in a pool. A side profile outline of the kayak, with a dotted line straight through, showing where the waterline intersects the hull, with both an average 150 pounder, and an average 200 pounder, or whatever weights fit the type of kayak under review, on perfectly flat water. A mark on the chart designating the deepest part of the hull, measurements showing the distance between the deepest part of the hull, and the waterline at the ends. A measurement showing waterline length. Measurements showing the length between the end of the waterline and the ends of the hull. We would see the entire curvature of the keel line as it relates to the waterline.
It’s just another piece of information, and sure it’s interesting and useful. I’d be interested to see how that would look between a KajakSport Viviane, Current Designs Extreme, a Tiderace Pace 18, the recently reviewed QCC 700, an Epic 18X, Point 65 XP18, and other fast sea kayaks in that category, for example. I have their reviews of several. Knowing the curvature along the hull in relation to the waterline would be interesting at the very least. The distance, curvature, and volume above the waterline at the bow would be interesting to relate to how they handle surf landings, for example. They’re playing with that notion significantly between surf oriented sea kayaks, like the Valley Gemini SP, P&H Aries and Delphin, Impex Hatteras, Sterling Reflection, Romany, Tiderace playboats, etc. We would at least have a comparable look at how those profiles sit in the water at a couple paddler weights, and we could all discuss how it may or may not relate to the experience we have paddling the boats. It absolutely has to be taken along with all of the other design aspects, but it stills gets us perhaps a step closer to how much different rocker profiles may or may not contribute to different characteristics.
I would love to be able to go back to all of the Sea Kayaker reviews, and see charts showing this rocker profile in relation to the waterline, along with all of the other characteristics. Almost no single piece of data tells the entire story of hull performance, and this wouldn’t need to either to be interesting and useful. Comparing two boats with almost identical rocker profiles, but different performance characteristics, still adds good information to the discussion.