The volume of the stern is carried backward
and is truncated, then sweeps into a fixed rudder. The rudder makes
tracking excellent. The swept sides of the rudder create a surface that
is an asset in surfing. One of the hardest parts of surfing is catching
the wave. The surfaces of the rudder get a push from braking waves to help
you catch the wave.
As a kayaker paddles faster hulls with a fine or pointed stern will squat
in the depression created by the stern waves. The high volume of the baidarka
style stern, keeps it high in the water increasing speed . Also this truncated
stern sends hull waves farther back as speed increases, forcing the
waves to act as they would on a boat with a longer water line, increasing
speed.
More detailed
photos of Fire Star
The baidarka hull is"fish form"(the widest
part of the hull is forward of center) said to be the most efficient design
for speed. Fire Star has moderate primary stability. The high volume
of the hull produces incredibly high secondary stability. The features
of the bow and stern combine with the shape of the hull, to produce very
fast (easy to paddle) kayak, designed to handle rough seas with ease.
The Fire Star has high volume making this an outstanding kayak with roomy
cockpit and storage capacity for extended camping trips.
Check -out Ken Katz's
review of one of my baidarka designs
Below are photos of Brent Cogswell's Fire Star built by
Rob Macks of Laughing Loon.
Brent is the one in the white hat.
" Hi Rob,
Once again , can't tell you how wonderful the Fire Star is. Paddles
like a dream and is fantastically stable in rough water.
Thanks again for your skill.
Brent"
The difference between the Fire Star and the Shooting
Star is that the Fire Star is a reduced scale North Star, so it has a fairly
high volume, where the Shooting Star is not a reduced scale North star
but a different hull with lower volume.
So if you are 150 to 220 pounds the Fire Star will give
you leg room and storage for week- trips.
Hello Rob.