Waves

Talking to Russ Parker about hulls (Hard Chines vs Soft Chines) we determined that there are significant advantages in terms of secondary stability having more stringers on a skin-on-frame hull. There is no question that you get better low speed planing and a more aggressive "cut" on wave fronts with a hard chine. When dealing with very rough water I am prepared to sacrifice a little speed and manoeuvrability in exchange for my survival. You may have to paddle like mad to plane on the soft chine, but if you surf it is easy to get up to 10 knots and fly. With a soft chine you still have the "grab" of a lapstrake hull when you quarter the seas but the skin-on-frame gives you lift as well. We are talking about simple waves. There are no simple waves when you approach shore. When the wave fronts suddenly become vertical, by clapotis or wind, designing a hull to rise-up or plough-through becomes pre-eminent. Many of the plastic boats I see have upturned snouts, to give the paddler a greater sense of security in waves. It has been my experience that when you head into 3 meter breakers it's like running your upper torso into a brick-wall whether the bow lifts or it doesn't. I have found that with a flattened, surfboard-like prow and a soft chine you emerge balanced and ready to set-up for the next wave again and again until you are clear of the breakers. N.B. having a decent neoprene cowl doesn't hurt! There must be a sacrifice of tertiary stability. On a windward shore my solution has always been to swim ashore and wait for your kayak. Otherwise the high primary and secondary stability make rolling extremely difficult, but bailing-out and re-mounting are realativly easy. N.B. Leashes don't hurt either!