How fast should I be going in 10 ft plastic kayak? 8.5 min kilometer?

[novice]

It's 28 inches wide. I tested myself by doing 4 by 2 kilometer trials.
This was in an ocean bay with the ocean almost completely still. THe
tide was coming in the whole time. Going in one direction I did 8.5
minute kilometers(13.8 minute miles) and going in other direction i did
9.5 minute kilomers(15.4 minute miles).

I was following the shoreline but one direction was a lot easier than
the other for some reason.
There were no waves or wind.

How much faster would 16 ft plastic point be or a 16 ft fiberglass boat?

[Andrew]

novice wrote:

> I was following the shoreline but one direction was a lot easier than
> the other for some reason.
> There were no waves or wind.

Was there tide?

A typical figure for an experienced sea kayaker with good technique is
3-4 nautical miles per hour. This is in a touring boat (15-18 feet or
so). They can paddle at this rate for a long period of time, achieving
the status of "touring".

Andrew

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per novice:

There are formulas for computing the HP required to drive a given hull at a
given speed. Check out the boat tests in an issue of Sea Kayaker.

I don't know anything technical about it, but from experience I can say that
there's a lot of variation just based on hull shape. For instance more rocker
==> more drag; so length + width are probably not enough for comparison
purposes.

Having said that.... I can hold 5.0-5.1 mph on my 12.5-foot x 24" WaveWitch for
short periods of time and 4.5-4.7 seems like a realistic cruising speed. Call
it 13.3-minute miles. I'm not particularly athletic, but the law of
diminishing returns sets in hard and soon with such short fat hulls.... so I'd
be surprised if somebody much more fit could add more than 1 mph to my cruising
speed.
--
PeteCresswell

[cram...@gmail.com]

That's 4.3 MPH or 3.8 knots. Not bad A competent kayaker in a touring
boat could do over 4 knots for extended periods. I'm not an athlete,
but I've done almost 6 knots for short periods in an 18 foot boat.

But you're doing this for a workout, not for speed, right? You need
plenty of resistance to build yourself up. Then when you switch to a
skinny boat you'll go much faster. That was the plan, right?

As was observed in your other thread, you seem to be using your arms
instead of your torso. Learn to use the right set of muscles and you'll
no doubt go faster.

Steve

[novice]

I bought the small kayak because it fits my car and apartment. It just
happy accident that it is good for training or at least adequate for
training..

[Andrew]

You'd get the same workout from a shorter boat as from a longer boat.
You'd just travel less distance. Sometimes, that's a good thing. Some
kayak racers drag a tin can behind them if they're on a shorter pond,
just so that they don't run out of room as quickly.

It sounds like a 10 ft kayak is the way to go for you, at least until
you get a roof rack or something.

Just use the proper muscles and you'll get a better workout.

[novice]

Thanks for the input:)

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per Andrew:

>You'd get the same workout from a shorter boat as from a longer boat.

For me there's definitely an aesthetic component: "chugging" in a short boat vs
gliding in a longer boat.

Having said that, I'm currently paddling a short boat partially for reasons
similar to the OP's - storage/transportation convenience.
--
PeteCresswell

[novice]

Most people dont even notice that Im not in a real kayak. I do feel
foolish though when I see someone with $5000 kayak with 600 dollar
paddle.

[Andrew]

There is rarely a need for a $5000 kayak and $600 paddle. Unless you
are sponsored. Or spoiled.

That being said, if it's really what you want, and you save up for it,
then indulge yourself in it.

[gal...@hotmail.com]

Maybe 1mph or so.

[BCITORGB]

On "average", just by checking off on charts, I paddle about 100
meters/minute. That works out to about 4mph. I'm happy with that as a
cruising speed.

==========

[Hanta-Yo-Yo]

Wilf, Good to hear from you! Long time no hear! Sounds like you have
been doing some paddling. Any new trip reports? Tinkerntom, TnT, aka
Hanta-Yo-Yo, HYY