: My Great Auk has climbed in weight to 75 lbs. (newbie epoxy
: mistakes, etc.... recessed carbon rim overbuilt.... )
: For me the main issue with weight is carrying it, and loading on my
: car racks. Once in the water the weight doesn't seem to be much
: of an issue.
: I have a plastic beater yak that is much lighter, but being much
: shorter isn't as fast as the longer heavier G Auk. I'm sure
: lighter is better, but on the water having or not having an
: extra pound or two on the stems probably doesn't matter
: much--except perhaps in competition.

: Adding the weight of cameras, etc.... also doesn't seem to be much
: of an issue unless they have to be carried or portaged with the
: kayak at the same time. (the bicycle rule is (or was) an ounce
: on the wheel is worth a pound on the frame. Perhaps for kayaks
: it might be 'ten pounds on my shoulder feels like one pound in
: the water.'

: I'm building a Mystery which is much narrower, so likely to be less
: stable. I'm wondering if there are any numbers (graphs) on the
: added stability of adding long narrow weights just inside the
: keel?

: I doubt anyone would want to glue down a lot of weight, but
: removable weight? Would 20 pounds add some stability? which
: could be carried in the car as an option on days the sea is
: rough. . . . .
: (The CG for a seated paddler though is probably the last vertebrae,
: and this can't be more than 4" from the bottom of the hull.
: At 180 lbs .....
: I think I just disproved my idea....
: Now that I'm rambling..... who's going to be the first to hack a
: Segway gyro and install it in a kayak? Nick, his brother, Tom
: Yost?

Oh yeah the weight will help, but you're going to have to get used to the stability (or lack of it) eventually, might as well just go for it.

While the extra weight doesn't make a huge difference once the boat's moving (it does slow you down some - boat rides lower thus has more wetted surface ie: more drag) it slows the acceleration a bunch, light is fast. For a fast boat (or an airplane) the only thing you add is lightness.

Bill H.

Bill H.