Miscellaneous Technical Information on Kayaks
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Length vs Resistance
This technical page shows a graph of data on the first tab. The graph is also technical, and compares the resistance to forward motion, in kilograms; to the length of the kayak, in centimeters. The line plotted is a least squares fit. However, it shows a slight increase in resistance versus length; counter to what most paddlers assume.
The reason is that overall length is not a good indicator of the speed; (resistance felt) of a kayak. Waterline length is a slightly better indicator. But other technical factors are significant.
The raw data is on the second tab. Furthermore, the data is taken from Sea Kayaker magazine kayak reviews.
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Lift Versus Drag in Technical and Greenland Style Paddles
A simple analysis of the relative importance of lift and drag in a greenland style paddle.
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Why Kayaks Weathercock
A diagram and explanation of weathercocking by Frank Goodman.
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Why Kayaks Rotate About Their Center of Gravity
A simple and technical demonstration of the physics principles imvolved in rotating a kayak. Moreover, it shows that kayaks do rotate about their centers of gravity when paddled.
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Shock Absorbing Towlines – what size bungie is required?
Nonetheless, some paddlers want a shock absorption system in a towline. This page explains how to determine what size bungie is required to limit the forces on a tow rig.
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