Boat Building Forum

Find advice on all aspects of building your own kayak, canoe or any lightweight boats

Re: Other: Practical differences in length
By:Bill Hamm
Date: 10/11/2008, 1:55 am
In Response To: Other: Practical differences in length (Kudzu)

: What PRACTICAL difference is there in a long boat compared to a shorter boat?
: Is there really any noticeable difference for an average paddler at
: average speeds? I understand longer water line means a higher maximum (or
: maybe potential) top speed. But if you had two identical boats other than
: one being 2' longer is there really any noticeable difference at normal
: speeds? What advatages of disadvantages do boats have?

There are other considerations too depending on where you paddle and in what weather. In big waves a longer narrower boat behaves much better than one that's shorter and wider. You have to get the buoyancy somewhere, length gets shorter beam has to get bigger or the depth has to change or the boat won't float the same load.

Also depends if you're using the boat only for day paddles. A shorter wider boat will generally have considerably less cargo capacity than it's longer cousin.

Bill H.

Messages In This Thread

Other: Practical differences in length
Kudzu -- 10/8/2008, 7:53 pm
Thanks, good info
Kudzu -- 10/11/2008, 12:33 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bill Hamm -- 10/11/2008, 1:55 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length *Pic*
Etienne Muller -- 10/10/2008, 3:28 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Carl Delo -- 10/16/2008, 1:03 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bill Hamm -- 10/16/2008, 2:18 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bill Hamm -- 10/12/2008, 1:35 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Ross Leidy -- 10/9/2008, 10:11 pm
And it's in your head too
Kudzu -- 10/11/2008, 12:32 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Scott Fitzgerrell -- 10/10/2008, 4:47 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Kudzu -- 10/9/2008, 10:22 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bill Hamm -- 10/9/2008, 7:38 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Charlie -- 10/9/2008, 6:14 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Aaron H -- 10/10/2008, 10:52 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Charlie -- 10/10/2008, 12:14 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Chris Sperry -- 10/9/2008, 10:55 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Aaron H -- 10/10/2008, 11:05 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Chris Sperry -- 10/10/2008, 11:41 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length *Pic*
Scott Fitzgerrell -- 10/10/2008, 4:43 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Chris Sperry -- 10/10/2008, 9:44 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Scott Fitzgerrell -- 10/11/2008, 4:55 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Aaron H -- 10/9/2008, 12:49 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Toni V -- 10/10/2008, 2:47 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Aaron H -- 10/10/2008, 10:24 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bryan Hansel -- 10/10/2008, 1:17 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Kudzu -- 10/9/2008, 12:59 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Don Lucas -- 10/9/2008, 10:13 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Kudzu -- 10/9/2008, 10:33 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Mike Savage -- 10/9/2008, 3:26 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bryan Hansel -- 10/8/2008, 11:38 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Kudzu -- 10/8/2008, 11:59 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bryan Hansel -- 10/10/2008, 9:01 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Brian Nystrom -- 10/9/2008, 6:27 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Toni V -- 10/9/2008, 1:59 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Paul G. Jacobson -- 10/9/2008, 12:45 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Paul G. Jacobson -- 10/8/2008, 10:46 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
HenkA -- 10/12/2008, 3:03 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Toni V -- 10/13/2008, 3:53 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bill Hamm -- 10/13/2008, 3:24 am
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Bill Hamm -- 10/9/2008, 7:34 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length *Pic*
Clayton Plunkett -- 10/8/2008, 9:15 pm
Re: Other: Practical differences in length
Jerry -- 10/8/2008, 8:02 pm