Yah
Hull speed. Very, very little difference to maintain between composite layups. An efficient (forward) hull shape loses power at a slower rate than a WW type hull (which is geared more towards handling conditions than forward efficiency). So it is easier to maintain hull speed with the previous. In fact, the momentum gained with a slightly heavier hull may help straight line efficiency over distance when water resistance is factored in.
What’s being lost in a lot of the discussion here is that the 1-2-3-4 strokes to get up to speed in starting, or turning, are much more dramatic than strokes to maintain.
So… For a touring boat, it’s not a big deal. You get up to speed in a stroke or two slower than the lighter layup.
When you’re talking freestyle, or maneuvering very tightly, the trade off is less clear. While less ‘swing’ weight is on one hand good (minimized response time), having a moderate weight helps fluidity of movement.
Another factor is water resistance. There is quite a bit more laterally than linearly. So water resistance offsets the difference in centripetal force much more than it does linear force. So you’ll notice a difference less in turning, and much more in off-the-line acceleration (which is still relatively minimal).
Are you saying
all things being equal, aside form the weight of the boat, the heavier boat sits lower in the water causing more resistance both straight and turning
not exactly
The added displacement caused by the extra hull weight is not going to be significant. I am saying that the disparity between acceleration between the light and heavy hull is going to be more than the disparity in turning between the two hulls.
In heavy chop
A lighter boat will be asier after a while - when every other wave stops you dead in your track and you have to work hard again to keep moving forward to gain speed for the next wave, I think a lighter weight boat definitely will feel easier to move.
Plus the ends being lighter, it will have less burrying into the waves and even less of a drag therefore. It will feel more lively but will be blown more by winds and waves because of its lightness - not always a good thing…
But getting a light boat on top of the car after a paddle - priceless -
L
Kayakers aint got nothing on Road cyclists when it comes to weight. In the road bike world we are talking Ounces that cost you thousands!
A little SlimFast goes a long way.
When I used to race motorcycles (in Superbike class), my budget couldn’t afford every titanium this and carbon that. So, I decided I could lose a few pounds for a lot less.
Same is true for me and kayaking. I don’t have much to lose but SlimFast costs a lot less than carbon fiber.
How much is that Epic in the window?
Bill G.
Mt. Pleasant, SC
yeah
once you go “carbon-black” you dont go back…
units
I thought the units just drop out if you are comparing two boats and taking the ratio to estimate relative differences.
Can you work though an example? Do you come to a different conclusion?
Mostly, but a heavier boat gets stopped
or slapped around a little less easily. My ocean and wavy lake experience is rather little, but in whitewater, a longer, heavier boat with more polar inertia can be easier for routine cruising. It’s only when I have to slew the boat back and forth or even spin it to avoid boat-filling holes and waves that light weight pays off well.