Racing K1 to Racing C1 build - Mk V

[OldNick]

Hi Liz,

At Pangbourne I paddled my trusty Jaguar K1 as I wanted to get into Div 6 so I no longer have to wear a buoyancy aid and I need the extra distance (at my age) to get warmed up. So I achieved that objective at least and am looking forward to a Div 6 paddle at Henley.

However, I has a massive reality check at the Nationals at Worcester a few weeks ago when I paddled The Darkness in the senior C1 event. There were only 7 boats, 5 off these were high-kneelers and the other sit&switch was Sean in his we-no-nah J203, which peeved me a bit as it is no way ICF compliant. Anyway I got my butt kicked big time. In my defence, I have to say that in the kayak world there are different events for the elderly, juniors, ladies, slow men, fast men and superstars, but not for open canoes, everyone is in together.

A young guy called MARKO CSOKASI from Richmond won in almost effortless style. He was also at Pangbourne and paddled his C1 in the Div 6 K1 event. I watched the start and was amazed by his speed. He wupped all the kayaks by two minutes and was immediately promoted two divs to Div 4 for his trouble, so I don’t feel quite so bad.

I’m going to have a go at high kneeling in The Darkness if I can find a source for the foam that people use for the kneeling blocks.

I’m not quite sure where that leaves me regarding the development of a “fast” switch&switch C1. I rather suspect a fundamental performance fault in the interface between the paddle and boat is the root cause of the problem and that’s something even cake can’t fix! I still intend to have a go at the Ross Warland and Basingstoke challenge events though.

Between you and me, I admit I did apply to The Dragon’s Den in an attempt to get some funding to go into production. Unfortunately I missed the deadline which wasn’t made entirely clear on the web site. I do rather fancy a bit of a ding-dong with the Dragons.

Anyway, know anyone with a few grand looking for an investment opportunity?

Nick

[michielv]

@Nick: hmm, although this is somehow a tempting idea I cannot spend funds with the lay offs currently going on at my employer (me being one of them :-( ).

BTW: have you read this: http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/forum/ ... ne-free%29
If you can fix yourself a deal you may get yourself some nice materials to build yourself a canoe for yourself.

Cheers,

Michiel

[OldNick]

It’s all been a bit quiet on the canoe development front recently but hopefully all that is about to change. I have managed to solicit the help of an experienced boat designer to help with CAD design to get the shape symmetrical and iron out all the warts and wrinkles.

Once successful, I hope to commission a boat developer to produce a plug on a lathe. From this I’ll make the mould and then the boats. A bit of investment is required and of course a huge risk but I can’t lay on my death bed regretting not at least having a go.

So, the next stage was to digitise the current prototype to get a preliminary 3D shape in CAD. This entails measuring to the outside of the boat from a base line. Moving in defined increments along the x axis from bow to stern to measure the z distance and then moving up 10mm and doing it all again until the dimensions of the whole boat are captured.

“Heath Robinson” came to my aid and I constructed a triangular frame to support a steel rule horizontally.









It took five hours and gave me chronic back ache but I’ve now sent the x,y,z coordinates off and am hoping it will turn out all right.

[OldNick]

Finally got the boat into CAD, now the real work begins. First it has to be “faired” which apparently means straightening it all out and getting it properly symmetrical. Then the fun starts with design modifications to make it look how I really wanted it rather than what “Heath Robinson” and I were able to achieve.

In the meantime, I’ve entered the DW and The Darkness and I are looking forward to seeing Westminster bridge on Monday 9th April reasonably dry and hopefully upright.

[OldNick]

So, what better way to test a marathon canoe than the Devizes to Westminster.

Trouble was though, the week before I sustained a muscle spasm in my back whilst moving some equipment at work. I don’t usually succumb to injuries so it was a bit of a shock. Anyway, after two sessions of chiropractic treatment, my first ever massage and some heavy duty prescription drugs, I managed to start the race at Devizes on Good Friday.

Day 1 was 34 miles and 35 portages which I did in 7 hours 23 mins
Day 2 was 36 miles and 33 portages which I did in 8 hours 37 mins
Day 3 was 38 miles and 13 portages which I did in 8 hours 24 mins

Day 4 was supposed to be just 17 miles from Teddington to Westminster Bridge starting at 05:15 hrs to catch the outgoing tide. But even though I was changed and ready to go I just couldn’t get in the boat. The toll of the injury, the previous three days with negligible flow on the Thames, knowing what the conditions on the tideway would be like in the dark and the chaos at the finish, I didn’t do the last bit.

Many thanks for those who tried to persuade me otherwise, sorry if I let you down but I don’t regret it.

However, the boat did 108 miles in a variety of conditions including some large washes from the boats on the Thames. This was the main issue, keeping upright in the intended direction whilst retaining a forward motion. When the waves were refracting off the vertical sides of the river I just had to brace on the paddle until it became still enough to risk switching sides to get the boat straight again and get it moving.

So what were the lessons learnt?

1. Good performance on the canal keeping within the times set by the other C1’s.
2. Good portage performance; lightweight and fast disembarking/re-embarking.
3. Good stability and reasonable directional stability.
4. Cool, good looks and hundreds of comments from paddlers and spectators!
5. Not so good stability on the river but that may have been me!
6. Some “weather cocking” as the boat was being turned by the wind and no rudder to compensate.
7. The boat was swamped by the wash from one boat as it was hit side on. I ended up with 6 inches of water in the boat.

Potential changes:

1. Reduce rear deck height to reduce impact of wind.
2. Reduce front deck for same reason.
3. Slight flattening of mid hull to improve stability?
4. Sharpen up hull at bow and stern.

Anyway, I off canoeing for a few weeks whilst my body recovers and the blisters heal!

[OldNick]

Ha, vindicated me thinks! All this time I was under the impression that the lack of stability was due to an aged paddler who was past his sell-by-date because no one else has actually paddled the beast.

But not so it would seem. Following advice from my designer I’m trying to persuade other paddlers to have a go to get some performance feedback. A number of experienced paddlers have been kind enough to take it out and the overwhelming response and the evidence of my own eyes shows that it is clearly in need of better stability.

I also noticed that about 10 cms of the bow is out of the water. It’s great for not snagging weeds but I’m losing some water line.

So, expensive mistakes avoided than goodness.

Willing volunteers are still required.

[michielv]

Combining things written in this thread before (mostly by Lennart I think): is the shape of the hull not just a bit too rounded?

If you are going to redesign the the hull, why not start from scratch again? You've got a computer model, perhaps shaping it into a slightly more modern shape (less wide, flat bit on the bottom, use the water for support and stability rather than floating on top)?

The front rocker may also be due to trimming the boat a bit more? I seem to remember you lost some weight last year, this may cause a difference in trim?

[michielv]

Hi Nick,

As I am looking at a few options to convert myself a canoe from my collection into a sit and switch trainer (most likely the old Ranger hull but I might even settle for a big foam seat in my Struer Delta) I was wondering how things are going with The Darkness now?

Also, I have been looking at the Apache Canoes 17 foot marathon canoe for inspiration: http://apachecanoes.co.uk/page13.html. It looks like I can modify the Ranger hull quite easily into a similar boat.

Per chance, have you paddled that canoe? If so, can you compare the Apache marathon canoe to The Darkness?

Cheers,
Michiel

[OldNick]

Hi Michiel,

Actually I am meeting with a boat manufacturer on Wednesday 6th March to consider making a plug from the CAD data as the first step to a professional boat.

As far as trying to convert any racing kayak to a canoe, you know what “fun and games” I had, but if I learnt one thing it is that the compromises you have to make are just too big and it will never be a satisfactory solution that’s why I went back to first principles.

I last saw the Apache Canoe 17 foot at 04:30 hrs on the morning of the last day of the 2012 DW. I noticed that the guy had put a static rudder/keel on the back which sort of defeats the object. I think he had the same sort stability issues as me but at least he negotiated the tideway.

Have patience Michiel, The Darkness will soon come into the light!

Nick

[Yew]

Although I dont Canoe and dont racem, I'm looking forward to see the results of this. Part of It must be ebcause I want to build a Carbon Playboat someday :D

[michielv]

Hi Michiel,
....

Have patience Michiel, The Darkness will soon come into the light!

Nick

Ah, patience. Those who know me know that I have a couple of nice qualities (well, at least good enough to put up with me every now and then ;-) but patience sure isn't one of them *lol*

Then again, my newfound hobby of square foot gardening may teach me some. Even if it doesn't, it's great to do with the kids.

BTW: I am currently restoring an old glass Delta. The boat needs a lot of TLC but it is looking better every day. I try not to hurry things and see how things go. Another patience-teaching project I suppose. ;-)

Cheers,
Michiel

[OldNick]

OK, I’m now happy with the design. It is quite radical for a sit&switch but that is the idea. Next Monday the CAD data will be loaded to a milling machine and I’ll end up with a full size plug of the boat.
Next stage is the mould.

[michielv]

Wow, it looks pretty impressive! I am currently pondering on boat choices. I'd love a sit & switch boat but also like to be able to (practice) high kneeling every now and then.

When (if ..) the weather improves I think I'll have a got at the Struer Aspida (C2) with a foam seat, just to see if that would work. Actually, the Delta paddles pretty stable in a seated position! Which was nice this past winter after a cold swim in choppy waters where I didn't trust myself to go high kneeling anymore but had to get home somehow ... ;-)