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surfski_design_characteristics [2023/01/29 16:51] preavley |
surfski_design_characteristics [2025/11/15 18:26] (current) pstureavley |
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| ====== Surfski Handling and Design Characteristics ====== | ====== Surfski Handling and Design Characteristics ====== | ||
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| + | [[:surfskis|Main Surfski Page]] | ||
| ===== Handling Characteristics ===== | ===== Handling Characteristics ===== | ||
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| * **primary** (or "**initial**") **stability** - initial stability is resistance to upset or tilt (absence of "tippiness") when more force is applied to one side of the boat than the other side starting from a balanced position. Another way to describe this is a boat's tendency to return to a fully upright position after it is tilted sideways at low angles (<10 degrees). Boats with flat bottoms have more initial stability than boats that are rounded transversely. | * **primary** (or "**initial**") **stability** - initial stability is resistance to upset or tilt (absence of "tippiness") when more force is applied to one side of the boat than the other side starting from a balanced position. Another way to describe this is a boat's tendency to return to a fully upright position after it is tilted sideways at low angles (<10 degrees). Boats with flat bottoms have more initial stability than boats that are rounded transversely. | ||
| * **secondary stability** - is the ease to roll back upright from an significantly tilted(heeled) position. Surfskis with good secondary stability can be brought back to upright from fairly side-wise tilted positions with less force than skis with poor secondary stability. Boats with flat bottoms can have more of an edge on their sides and if they are tilted too far onto that edge can have a very strong tendency to continue turning until upside down - demonstrating poorer secondary stability. Outrigger canoes have great primary stability and poor secondary stability. | * **secondary stability** - is the ease to roll back upright from an significantly tilted(heeled) position. Surfskis with good secondary stability can be brought back to upright from fairly side-wise tilted positions with less force than skis with poor secondary stability. Boats with flat bottoms can have more of an edge on their sides and if they are tilted too far onto that edge can have a very strong tendency to continue turning until upside down - demonstrating poorer secondary stability. Outrigger canoes have great primary stability and poor secondary stability. | ||
| - | * **tracking** - is the tendency of a boat to stay on a straight line when it has some forward speed. Keel can provide more tendency to track. Few if any surfskis have a boat long keel, but the shape of the hull makes a difference in tracking also. A boat that tracks well typically does not **turn** as quickly as a boat that has little tendency to track. Tracking is more generally helpful in flatwater or straight line paddling while ease of **turning** and **agility** are critical in slalom racing and can be helpful in downwinding to some extent. [[:surfski_design_characteristics#rocker|Rocker]] also tends to make turning easier. Speculation: A ski with minimal rocker could possibly be tilted sideways to simulate a greater degree of rocker for turns - is this true? | + | * **tracking** - is the tendency of a boat to stay on a straight line when it has some forward speed. A keel can provide more tendency to track, but few if any surfskis have a boat long keel. The shape of the hull can also make a difference in tracking. A boat that tracks well typically does not **turn** as quickly as a boat that has little tendency to track. Tracking is more generally helpful in flatwater or straight line paddling while ease of **turning** and **agility** are critical in slalom racing and can be helpful in downwinding to some extent. [[:surfski_design_characteristics#rocker|Rocker]] also tends to make turning easier. Speculation: A ski with minimal rocker could possibly be tilted sideways to simulate a greater degree of rocker for turns - is this true? |
| * … | * … | ||
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| - | * [[https://youtu.be/lRtA_7tj_4o|Video tour of surfski design and features]] | + | * <del>[[https://youtu.be/lRtA_7tj_4o|Video tour of surfski design and ]]</del> <del>[[https://youtu.be/lRtA_7tj_4o|features]]</del>Offline? |
| - | * [[http://www.surfskinews.com/tech-travel-archive/2016/12/21/wes8tmay2zn41nedrck1aami2ac808|Greg Barton on Design and Setup Variables]] | + | * [[https://web.archive.org/web/20180910125524/http://www.surfskinews.com:80/tech-travel-archive/2016/12/21/wes8tmay2zn41nedrck1aami2ac808|Greg Barton on Design and Setup Variables ]](Surfskinews.com no longer, but found on the Internet Wayback Machine) |
| + | * [[https://www.stellarkayaks.com/kayak-design-construction|The Design & Fabrication of Stellar Surfskis and Kayaks]] | ||
| + | * [[https://www.thomassondesign.com/en/news/surfski-for-strip-building|Thomasson Design DIY Surfski Design]] | ||
| ==== Length ==== | ==== Length ==== | ||
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| ==== Beam ==== | ==== Beam ==== | ||
| - | The width at the widest point of a boat. Beam in surfskis occurs close to the seat and surfskis usually do not have abrupt transitions in width so beam can be used for general comparisons of surfski width - generally "narrower is faster" but less stable (flatness of the bottom interplays with this) | + | The width at the widest point of a boat. Beam in surfskis occurs close to the seat (typically just behind) and surfskis usually do not have abrupt transitions in width so beam can be used for general comparisons of surfski width - generally "narrower is faster" but less stable (flatness of the bottom interplays with this) |
| ==== Chine ==== | ==== Chine ==== | ||
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| ==== Volume ==== | ==== Volume ==== | ||
| - | The inner space of a surfski that is more or less hollow and provides the overall degree of flotation for the ski. Larger paddlers generally need and prefer larger volume boats although expert paddlers can usually more efficiently paddle smaller surfskis. Larger volume can be preferred in bigger seas and surf. And volume interplays with shape and distribution of the volume in effects on handling. For example - more volume of air in the bow helps keep the bow above water better and also brings the boat back to the surface sooner if the boat does run into a wave. | + | The inner space of a surfski that is more or less hollow and provides the overall degree of flotation for the ski. Larger paddlers generally need and prefer larger volume boats although expert paddlers can usually more efficiently paddle surfskis that are small relative to their own size and weight than average paddlers can. Larger volume can be preferred in bigger seas and surf. And volume interplays with shape and distribution of the volume in effects on handling. For example - more volume of air in the bow helps keep the bow above water better and also brings the boat back to the surface sooner if the boat does run into a wave. Some surfskis with less relative volume in the stern, such as the Kai Wa'a Vega and Flex, are complimented for what seems to be their ease for dropping onto waves and surfing. |
| ==== Weight ==== | ==== Weight ==== | ||
| - | Differences in weight in surfskis is primarily due to the use of different construction materials. Heavier fiberglass is less expensive. The more carbon that is used, generally the lighter and more expensive the boat. A heavier version of the same model will be more stable but slower to accelerate and slower overall on flatwater (though the added stability may result in greater speed in rougher conditions). Differences in weight may also be important in loading, unloading and carrying your surfski particularly if you have to do this on your own. | + | Differences in weight in surfskis is primarily due to the use of different construction materials. Heavier fiberglass is less expensive. The more carbon that is used, generally the lighter and more expensive the boat. A heavier version of the same model will be more stable but slower to accelerate and slower overall on flatwater (though the added stability may result in greater speed in rougher conditions). Differences in weight may also be important in loading, unloading and carrying your surfski particularly if you have to do this on your own. See [[:modifications#speedperformance_tweaks|performance modifications - weight]] |
| ==== Cockpit Design Details ==== | ==== Cockpit Design Details ==== | ||
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| * **Foot Pedals **- you need to make sure that you have enough width to place your feet side by side without interference with each other when using the pedals. You also need to be able to move your pedals to a place that allows your legs to work best for getting maximum leg drive. Ease of adjustment of pedal position may be more important if more than one person will be using a surfski. | * **Foot Pedals **- you need to make sure that you have enough width to place your feet side by side without interference with each other when using the pedals. You also need to be able to move your pedals to a place that allows your legs to work best for getting maximum leg drive. Ease of adjustment of pedal position may be more important if more than one person will be using a surfski. | ||
| * **Foot Straps** | * **Foot Straps** | ||
| - | * [[:stories:regrouping_help_2015|Regrouping, Bike Tumbles, Footstraps 4/03/2015]] (the part about footstraps is down past half way in the discussion - interesting that as late as 2015 quite a few paddlers were not using them) | + | * [[:stories:regrouping_help_2015#footstraps|Regrouping, Bike Tumbles, Footstraps 4/03/2015]] (interesting that as late as 2015 quite a few paddlers were still not using them) |
| * [[:footstraps_again_2015|Footstraps Again 11/07/2015]] | * [[:footstraps_again_2015|Footstraps Again 11/07/2015]] | ||
| + | * (Footstrap covers can help stiffen foot straps and help them keep shape, sometimes making foot entry easier) | ||
| * **Drains **- primary difference in drain styles is ones that open and close manually and ones that are always open. | * **Drains **- primary difference in drain styles is ones that open and close manually and ones that are always open. | ||
| - | * Always open drains allow water into the foot well when your surfski is moving slowly or is stopped. They typically are smaller than manual drain openings and some folks complain about some of their drainage speeds. Since you typically have more than one smaller drain of this style, the holes may be somewhat more subject to clogging. There is usually a hood on the bottom of the ski covering always open drains to make them more efficient. But they do not typically include "[[:modifications#drainage|bullets]]" which can be added to improve drainage and keep the foot well drained at a lower speed. | + | * Always open drains allow water into the foot well when your surfski is moving slowly or is stopped. They typically are smaller than manual drain openings and some folks complain about some of their drainage speeds. Since you typically have more than one smaller drain of this style, the holes may be somewhat more subject to clogging. There is usually a hood on the bottom of the ski covering always open drains to make them more efficient. But they may not include "[[:modifications#drainage|bullets]]" when new, but bullets can easily be added to improve drainage and keep the foot well drained at a lower speed. |
| * Manual drains - you have to be able to easily reach and operate with your hand or foot which may be more of a nuisance. You can just leave this style open all of the time and let it operate like always open drains, but the drain flap that sticks down below your surfski when open may be more susceptible to damage if left open when loading, moving, or setting down your surfski. Also many of these style drains seem to lose their complete seal over time and start to leak even when closed which may be correctible by installing a new gasket if the drain construction allows this. | * Manual drains - you have to be able to easily reach and operate with your hand or foot which may be more of a nuisance. You can just leave this style open all of the time and let it operate like always open drains, but the drain flap that sticks down below your surfski when open may be more susceptible to damage if left open when loading, moving, or setting down your surfski. Also many of these style drains seem to lose their complete seal over time and start to leak even when closed which may be correctible by installing a new gasket if the drain construction allows this. | ||
| - | * **Leash Mounts **- sturdy, recessed leash mounts are a plus. Some surfskis have them in the footwell area for easy attachment for a leg leash and some do not. Lacking a foot well mount, one can add one with sufficient fiberglass working skill or you can attach you leg leash to your foot straps (make sure that this is completely secure and does not interfere with your feet entry/exit and pedal use.) If you prefer using a waist leash with a mount behind your seat, some surfskis come with bungee holes behind the seat that can also serve as leash anchor mounts, or you can add mounts of you own - recessed ones glassed into the behind seat area will be stronger than a surface mount like a well nut. Some folks put a metal plate inside to spread stress on a mount over a larger area and increase their strength. | + | * **Leash Mounts **- sturdy, recessed leash mounts are a plus. Some surfskis have them in the footwell area for easy attachment for a leg leash and some do not. Lacking a foot well mount, one can add one with sufficient fiberglass working skill or you can attach your leg leash to your foot straps (make sure that this is completely secure and does not interfere with your feet entry/exit and pedal use.) If you prefer using a waist leash with a mount behind your seat, some surfskis come with bungee holes behind the seat that can also serve as leash anchor mounts, or you can add mounts of you own - recessed ones glassed into the behind seat area will be stronger than a surface mount like a well nut. Some folks put a metal plate inside to spread stress on a mount over a larger area and increase their strength. |
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