Quote:
Originally Posted by Kracken
You are killing me. M&M.
Please give us the number.
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Hehehe. Sorry for any angst but if we want to be honest about this, let's decide that the scenario is appropriate and then what the input numbers are. Then the results are the results whatever they say. Just as a for instance ....
I'd use a human reaction time somewhere between 1.5 and 1.8 seconds. The boating situation isn't like having your hand poised over a switch waiting for a buzzer to sound and nor is it like reacting to something totally unexpected and unknown.
So at what distance can we expect a boater to see the kayak lying directly in his path ? Well I've come across more than a few over the decades I've been on Winni and I'd just have to put my estimate in. Frankly if you can't see one at 0.5 miles distant you need an eye exam. I can tell you the color of the paddlers PFD from across the bay and that's 1000'. Let's be conservative and say it's 1000 ft before the boater sees the kayak and recognizes it as something to avoid.
So what does the boater do ? Mostly I'd expect a turn and not too abrupt a one as he'll not take the time to trim properly (at first). So how tight a turn is this ? Well in my world it's common to measure a constant radius turn in terms of Gs (I can spew on this if desired). In your car a not felt turn might be 0.25G. A just noticable one is perhaps .33G. Cranking the wheel so you're pulling 0.5G will have your wife telling you to slow down ! What can a boat do ? Actually all trimmed and set for a turn, they'll do really well but remember this is something of an immediate nature. Let's again be conservative and say 0.33G.
Will the Capt then slow as well ? I would though it might take a bit longer to reach the throttle and then I'd be a bit careful not to slam it to zero. Let's say it takes me 2.5 seconds after I see the kayaker to get to the stick(s). What kind of deceleration would I use ? I think 0.25G is pretty mild.
So there's some inputs. So what's the max speed I could be doing and still not break the kayakers 150' "bubble" ? This is the time to debate the numbers above.