Handling
From KayakWiki
A kayak's handling is defined by many factors:
- Directional stability
- Does the kayak continue in a straight line when paddling stops, or will it turn or yaw to one side or another. Affected heavily by Rocker and Fineness in the ends of the boat.
- Rocker
- A measure of the longitudinal curvature of the hull. Kayaks can be heavily rockered, like Whitewater kayaks, which often have a "banana-shape" rocker, or rocker in the bow only. A kayak could have rocker in the stern only, but this is rare and probably difficult to control. A kayak with heavy rocker can pitch more than a boat with low rocker.
- Fineness
- How a kayaks ends are shaped in relation to the volume in the middle of the craft.
- Volume distribution
- A description of where the significant volume of the boat lies. Tied closely to Fineness - see Volumetric Coefficient.
- Stability
- Stability is a factor that isn't a direct measure of a boat's handling, but the kayak's ability or lack of ability to be easily edged, leaned, or rolled will affect other handling factors.
See Also:
