JEM Watercraft

Still learning -

In the side views of these two, how does the rising chine affect handling in the Freedom? Is it easier to turn? Does this make the Lakers harder to turn?

I am guessing that it the Laker is a little more stable when still or going slow, with the Freedom being more stable when it is leaning into a curve?

It seems that the Freedom would be easier to paddle, or paddle faster, with the start of the chine above the water.

Am I thinking too much?

Thanks,
Billy

The Freedom has a flat bottom section. The 2 chines take away some of the cross section and displacement. This allows it not to sit too high in the water and feel unstable when lightly loaded.

The Laker is a narrower boat and has a bit less secondary stability, but it is a much faster boat.

Thank you. After looking through the tutorials, I see there is no tape used on the seems if the hull is glassed. The dingy I built had 9oz. tape on inside and outside seems. Then the cloth. Would this affect the weight too much?

Billy

Additional glass is not a problem. Or you could just tape the seams inside and out.

This is a smaller paddler craft. It doesn't have to deal with stress loads of oars, sails, or outboard motors.

I personally like to put and extra layer of tape on the outer seams of a hard-chined boat just for abrasion resistance. But it's not required.

Thanks. Guess I'm used to taping all seams before laying cloth. I know it's a bit heavier, but my V12 fell off the sawhorses, right on the transom chine corner from about 3 feet up, with no damage.

Not sure how much more weight would be added, but it couldn't be more than a few pounds.

Thanks,
Billy

If you're going for abrasion protection, use 3" wide tape and feather the edges in. Applying the tape before the glass will help it look better.

Okay. I'll go with tape, then fabric.

Thanks, Matt.