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I agree that you should be able to generate more power using your legs than your arms, but I wonder about power loss in the bicycle drivetrain. Also, does anyone have a feel for the efficiency of a propeller versus a paddle?
The last question is this: A reasonable figure for the force required to move a kayak at 4 knots is about 4 pounds. But even if you could deliver twice the usable force with legs and propeller that would only move you at 5 knots. So how much speed can be gained from using a more powerful engine if we run into hull speed considerations? I'd think that legs and prop would be significantly faster in a short sprint and slightly faster over the long haul. But to be a lot faster over the long haul would seem to requuire a lot of power.
As an aside, I seem to remember seeing, on this bulletin board, a reference to a peddle-power hydrofoil.
This is an archived message from The Kayak Building Bulletin Board.
Guillemot Kayak - High
Performance Wooden Sea Kayak Designs
