Flyak the flying kayak
By Paul Miller 
posted October 3rd 2005 7:00AM
posted October 3rd 2005 7:00AM
Okay, so we admit that we aren't much into kayaking here at Engadget—it might be the fact that the darn things never
seem to go in a straight line when we're doing the paddling—but we've got to give props to a hydroplaning version of
the infernal boats. The Flyak doesn't actually fly, but it does rise about half a foot out of the water, giving you far
less drag than a traditional kayak. Should be just the thing for breaking some world records in, but you'll need a
solid 4 to 8 second sprint to get the thing up and some definite skillz to keep it going. We'll stay on dry land thank
you very much.
[Thanks, Michael]
Surely because you are higher above the water than you would be in a "normal" kayak, the angle of your oars/paddle will have to be sharper. This would probably mean that someone used to a normal kayak would find that different muscles are involved, possibly causing some sore shoulder for the first two weeks.
But then again, if there's less drag, there should be less effort involved leading to less pain.
Can someone who actually rows or kayaks enlighten me?
That's not a "hydroplaning" effect, which is what happens when your car tires slide across a puddle, that's a "hydrofoil" which uses a wing-like structure underwater to create lift like an airplane. This is commonly used in high-speed ferries, such as Hong Kong and Vancouver.
What the...? ---[tips over]--- SPARK (sound comes from head)
#2 who the fvck cares.
i would so fall over sideways, it would look pretty comical tho
Oh man. Look at the videos on that site - those things can really cruise! Like twice the speed of a regular kayak, with what appears to be less effort (for the record, I'm no pro, but the guy in the 2005 video I just watched looked pretty sloppy to me).
I think you're right aprodite - there is a proper paddle angle for every boat/rider, and as soon as this thing gets up out of the water all that changes. I suppose ideally you would have a paddle that could be quickly extended in the middle by maybe a foot to make it optimal for both uses.
Finkel: I think you're right. Hydroplaning is skimming the surface of the water, though the term is sometimes applied to hydrofoils. I seem to remember that when a hydrofoil gets out of the water it's called "on plane" but I could be wrong about that.
Sailing dinghies have been doing this for years, particularly in the International Moth class.
E.g. http://www.int-moth.org.uk/
Or if you can't afford the flayk just try paddling a regular one underwater... http://longdarktechtime.com/2005/09/underwater-sculling.html
Personally, I prefer leisurely paddling. I suppose if one is into sprinting this would be fun.