Kayak design and hydrodynamics
From KayakWiki
[edit] Kayak design
Kayak design is a subset of marine or naval architecture. Most of the information that is specific to canoes also applies to kayaks, since the hulls are similar in speed of operation, size and displacement. Comparing the results of research or theory for large ships can be problematic. There are few sources of information specific to canoes and kayaks. One source is Winters, unfortunately out of print but available on CD - see The Shape of the Canoe for details.
Many kayak enthusiasts avoid the complexities of design theory by using a hull design computer program. They can be used to automate the process of calculating most of the significant factors that come into play in designing a kayak. Some will even print out tables of offsets or drawings with dimensions for the construction of a kayak.
[edit] Hydrostatics and Hydrodynamics
It is beyond the scope of KayakWiki to provide a detailed explanation of all the variables and theories that affect kayak performance. However, the following tries to hit the high points and define or describe the terms you are likely to find in magazines, books and advertisements related to kayaks.
