It might be less stable at speed. Just running this question though my head
makes it hurt - the hallmark of a good question. What I came up with is that
at speed and on edge, the curve of the kayak would tend to make it rise up
out of the water. This might make the boat less stable because less of the
boat is wetted. On the other hand water moving past an object pushes on it,
holding it somewhat in place (Like a sweeping brace). So in other words I
have no idea --- hope that clears it up ;-

I'd be interested in seeing if you get a more informed answer.

Obviously not from me.


Ken
--

"Darryl Johnson" wrote in message
news
Gene Cosloy wrote in
m:

Does the final stability of a kayak depend on how much forward
propulsion the boat is undergoing, all things being equal. In
other words if edging a boat dead still on flat water gets me to
the edge of the combing before the boat wants to capsize, will the
same boat permit further edging when it's underway? A bicycle
heeled over at speed is stable and unstable heeled at rest. While
a kayak does not experience centrifugal forces, does the hydrolic
surge force of propulsion provide a similar effect?

Gene

Interesting question. Here's why it never ocurred to me to ask it: I
have assumed that the kayak's stability would be independent of
forward motion. Therefore, if this assumption is valid, you will be
able to edge the boat to the same degree whether it is standing still
or moving forward at any speed.

The bicycle gets its stability from the gyroscopic forces on the
rotating wheels (not centrifugal).

Now, if there is some force from the moving water acting on the boat,
I would expect them to be fairly small. Perhaps small enough that you
wouldn't be able to distinguish between the amount of lean you were
able to do. It is, after all, a pretty coarse measure that you are
trying to take -- degrees of tilt from the horizontal judged by eye
alone.

But I could be wrong. g

I'd be interested in seeing if you get a more informed answer.
--
Darryl