The ''Ladie's Kayak Project''

Dear Paddling Gals (and Interested Guys):

Have you ever (not) been in a kayak that did not fit well? One or more of the following may sound familiar: your cockpit is up to your armpits, your hips and thighs are crammed in and the back strap is behind your shoulder blades, or the adjustments don’t quite go far enough.

Help change a paradigm!

Nearly all kayaks today are designed by men. Not surprisingly, most models also perform better for men than for women, due to several physiological differences. While some paddling schools report equal or greater numbers of women in beginner classes, the male/female ratio among those who stick with it is 3 or more to 1. There are many reasons for this attrition, but I believe one relates to the design of today’s kayaks.

Newer models have reduced this gender inequity tremendously – produced in several sizes, and outfitted to accommodate multiple body shapes. However, one fundamental difference in the anatomy of men and women has not been addressed in kayak designs – the difference in their respective center of gravity (CG). Kayaks that do not take this difference into account contribute to the perception of many women that they are less able to learn basic skills, have fun as a recreational enthusiast and excel as an elite athlete than men.

A kayak design concept for women that takes advantage of a woman’s structural attributes could reduce the gap between potential performance and mastery between men and women, and expand the paddling market in a new way. Addressing this CG-related challenge involves an investigation of ergonomic, volume/ displacement, and manufacturing materials.

After approaching several well-known university design departments for their agreement to put this quandary to the capabilities of future engineering product designers, Carnegie Mellon University has offered an opportunity to ask students this Fall (2011) to explore this design challenge and recommend a solution that could be applied to various genres of kayaks.

To continue reading go to the links below and supoprt the project at Carnegie Mellon!

Also check the Facebook Group page by click here.

For More Information: http://theshimodagroup.com/blog/?p=138

Contact: Risa Shimoda (risa@theshimodagroup.com)