George talks about the idea that flexibility might make baidarkas go faster, but he stops just short of saying he believes it to be the case. He doesn't have any real hard data to support the idea and is smart enough refrain from going completely out on that limb until he can back it up a little better.

> That's the million dollar question and subject to plenty of controversy.
> George Dyson presents his views in the Scientific American article that
> the flexible baidarka is faster than a stiff hull in some condititions. I
> have heard paddlers report that they don't get tossed around nearly as
> severely in storm conditions in a flexible hull as compared to a stiff
> hull but this is second-hand information. I have very little experience
> with baidarkas and paddle Greenland designs. Greenland skinboats are
> generally much stiffer than a baidarka but still have some flex. John
> Heath has often said that he felt that a stiff glass kayak felt like
> "dancing with a mannequin" after one was accustomed to a
> skinboat.

> Greg Stamer