: 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.

Charlie,

Your explanation specifically mentions boats with longer waterlines. For myself, one of the most intriguing designs to consider are the baidarkas. Nick's Aleutesque, and Laughing Loon's North Star, Fire Star, and Shooting Star are all described as fast boats. The truncated sterns contribute to the speed of the boats, and lessen the overall length. The baidarkas are also known for their turning abilities. Could this not be a good design to consider to boost your speed in a shorter length? It seems that many who have built baidarkas are thrilled to paddle them. I would love to build one some day.

Anyone else?

Chris