Last time I petted Flipper at SeaWorld he was still one smooth, slick, rubbery
feeling
porpoise. If you're talking about some microscopic, nano scale… well then
nothing is
really truly smooth.

I know dolphin skin is soft and kind of undulates with the flow of water, which
helps with
laminar flow.





--- In norcalsurfing@yahoogroups.com, "dpletcher_1" <dpletcher@...> wrote:
>
> Max, dolphins are not smooth... you need to see the fluid dynamics
> visualizations of water flow over a dolphin. trust me hte skin is
> not smooth..
>
> --- In norcalsurfing@yahoogroups.com, "Maximooo" <Maximooo@> wrote:
> >
> > Flipper might be flakey but he's still one smooth cat.
> >
> > I have seen that article and it is very interesting. Dander
> challenged dolphins and flakey
> > vortices is a whole `nother phenomenon.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In norcalsurfing@yahoogroups.com, "dpletcher_1" <dpletcher@>
> wrote:
> > >
> > > Dolphin skin is not smooth it is fact flaky and dolphins shed
> their
> > > skin every two hours... see the following..
> > >
> > > Scientists discover secret of dolphin speed
> > >
> > > How dolphins evolved to fly like birds under water
> > > Physicists in Japan have discovered how the surface of a
> dolphin's
> > > skin reduces drag and helps them glide smoothly and quickly
> through
> > > water. These findings could help scientists design faster, energy-
> > > efficient boats, ocean liners, and submarines. This research is
> > > published in the Institute of Physics journal, Journal of
> Turbulence.
> > > Scientists have known for some time that dolphins have evolved
> > > streamlined bodies which help them reduce the pressure of water
> > > against their skin (known as the 'form drag') as well as reducing
> > > friction (or 'friction drag'). Until now, no-one knew whether the
> > > soft flaky skin of a dolphin, which they shed once every 2 hours,
> > > also plays a vital part in helping them reduce these 'drags' and
> > > travel faster.
> > >
> > > To try and understand the role of the soft, flaky skin,
> researchers
> > > from the Kyoto Institute of Technology in Japan devised a
> detailed
> > > computer simulation which models the flow of water over a
> dolphin's
> > > skin, modelling every individual flake of skin itself, and the
> way it
> > > peels off.
> > >
> > > Professor Yoshimichi Hagiwara and colleagues found that
> > > the 'softness' or 'waviness' of the skin helps reduce drag caused
> by
> > > friction. They also discovered that the shedding of the skin
> itself
> > > reduces drag by disturbing tiny whirlpools of water called
> vortices,
> > > that occur in the flow around the surface of the dolphin and slow
> it
> > > down.
> > >
> > > To test their simulation, they built a laboratory experiment
> which
> > > mimics dolphin skin using a 'wavy' plate covered in tiny pieces
> of
> > > film that gradually peel off as water moves over the surface.
> > >
> > > Professor Hagiwara said: "It's really difficult to measure flow
> near
> > > swimming dolphins, so we designed an experiment that accurately
> > > reflects the way the surface layer of dolphin skin interacts with
> > > water flow over and around the dolphin".
> > >
> > > He continued: "This research is important because it gives us
> greater
> > > insight into the mechanisms dolphins have evolved to cope with
> > > travelling through water, which is much harder than travelling
> > > quickly through air like birds do. This research could help us
> build
> > > boats, ocean liners and submarines using technology based on
> these
> > > natural solutions".
> > >
> > > Professor Hagiwara and his team are now improving their models,
> and
> > > building a new test apparatus using a soft silicon-rubber wall,
> in
> > > the hope of mimicking dolphin skin even more precisely.
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In norcalsurfing@yahoogroups.com, "Maximooo" <Maximooo@>
> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Andrew,
> > > >
> > > > A dophin's skin is smooth, soft and slippery. I think you must
> > > mean a shark, whose rough
> > > > scaly skin is arranged along the direction of water flow, so it
> is
> > > smooth to touch in the
> > > > direction water travels. Sharks, like all fish, also have a
> slime
> > > layer to help with laminar
> > > > flow. You can think of this as a form of lubrication thru the
> > > water. Since we can't cover
> > > > our rigid boards with dolphin or shark skin, I think the
> analogy is
> > > faulty.
> > > >
> > > > The question is what can we do with our boards to improve
> > > performance? I think Stick
> > > > Slick helps with frictional drag. Polyester fiberglass is
> actually
> > > a very porous material
> > > > especially compared to epoxy. Water seeps into polyester and
> the
> > > fiber weave and foam
> > > > gets waterlogged and your board loses it's initial flex
> > > characteristics. This is why the pros
> > > > go through their boards every 2 months. Stick Slick helps to
> seal
> > > up those pores and tiny
> > > > cracks, making for a smoother surface, hence less drag = faster
> > > ride.
> > > >
> > > > There is also an adhesion factor to water. It sticks to what
> it
> > > touches. Waxes and oils
> > > > repel water, helping it to flow more smoothly off your board =
> > > faster ride.
> > > >
> > > > If you snowboard, you know what a good wax can do. You would
> never
> > > ride an unwaxed
> > > > board. The pressure of a snowboard and friction turns snow and
> ice
> > > into a thin layer of
> > > > water between your board and the snow, so you are actually
> riding
> > > on a layer of water. A
> > > > freshly waxed snowboard glides effortlessly. It's the same
> > > principle here.
> > > >
> > > > I think you guys are still thinking of deck wax or furniture
> wax.
> > > Think snowboard wax as
> > > > an analogy. If it protects from UV rays and prolongs your
> board's
> > > liveliness... even better.
> > > >
> > > > enjoy,
> > > >
> > > > --Max--
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -- In norcalsurfing@yahoogroups.com, "dpletcher_1" <dpletcher@>
> > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Since one of the fastest animals in the water is the dolphin,
> > > whose
> > > > > skin is rough/not smooth, do you think the dolphin would go
> > > faster if
> > > > > we covered one in Stick Slick, buffed him/her up and let her
> go?
> > > > >
> > > > > drew
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In norcalsurfing@yahoogroups.com, "Darren Steven"
> <darrene@>
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Please all,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Really, the only thing you will be "suprised" about is how
> much
> > > of a
> > > > > > sucker you can be. Sorry Max.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Do not waste your money. There is no evidence of this type
> of
> > > > > product
> > > > > > ever working. You don't see racing railboats spraying stuff
> on
> > > the
> > > > > > bottom of the board to go faster or win races. Water is not
> a
> > > solid,
> > > > > > therefore only an extremely small layer actually contacts
> your
> > > > > board,
> > > > > > the rest of the water molecules touch those and so on.
> There is
> > > so
> > > > > > little "friction" between touching water molecules, that is
> not
> > > > > > humanly measurable.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Just keep the bottom clean, and you board will go as fast
> as it
> > > can.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > There is just soooo much research out there refuting any
> claims
> > > like
> > > > > > this it is silly. Also goes to show how much people are
> suckers
> > > for
> > > > > > marketing, and they keep bringing this stuff back to
> market,
> > > every
> > > > > few
> > > > > > years, just awesome...
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --- In norcalsurfing@yahoogroups.com, "Maximooo"
> <Maximooo@>
> > > wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Give it a shot, Andrew. I think you'll be surprised.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Stick Slick isn't like your lumpy deck wax, it's more
> like a
> > > slick
> > > > > > polish to allow water flow
> > > > > > > more smoothly along the contact surface of your board,
> thus
> > > > > > decreasing drag.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I wiki'ed carnauba, and it is the main ingredient in car
> wax,
> > > > > > although I suspect car polish
> > > > > > > will have less enviromental chemical agents to make your
> > > gloss
> > > > > coat
> > > > > > bling a bit more.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Greg Ulatowski: bummer about your Santa Cruz
> experience. I
> > > > > forget
> > > > > > which shop in SC
> > > > > > > carries it. Try K-Star in Pacifica.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > To answer an earlier Annieline concern. Sticky bumps wax
> is
> > > also
> > > > > > mostly made from
> > > > > > > carnauba. Formulated with coconut oils for stickiness
> and
> > > > > softness.
> > > > > > It's pretty
> > > > > > > environmentally innocuous stuff.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Stick Slick is made with carnauba and citric oils for
> > > polishing
> > > > > > properties and a delicious
> > > > > > > citric scent. Don't eat it.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Carnauba is a waxy gunk from a Brazillian palm tree,
> noted
> > > for
> > > > > it's
> > > > > > water repellant
> > > > > > > properties. It lasts pretty well in salt water.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > --- In norcalsurfing@yahoogroups.com, "dpletcher_1"
> > > <dpletcher@>
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > That is too funny.. just keep the bottom of your board
> > > clean. I
> > > > > > > > usually clean off any wax that has gotten on the board
> from
> > > the
> > > > > rack
> > > > > > > > or the truck and put a little elbow grease in to a
> quick
> > > bottom
> > > > > polish
> > > > > > > > with a towel.. I just cannot see how this stuff is
> going
> > > to
> > > > > improve
> > > > > > > > speed on the board it seems to me that it is going to
> > > create and
> > > > > > > > irregular surface which then increases drag and high
> > > resistance
> > > > > to
> > > > > > > > flow....
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > drew
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > --- In norcalsurfing@yahoogroups.com, "Mississippi John
> > > Hurt"
> > > > > > > > <johnhurt@> wrote:
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > hey, i think regular car wax would have the same
> effect
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > On 7/21/06, Greg Ulatowski <discobat2000@> wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Ha ha! In Santa Cruz, i asked for it and in all
> > > stores
> > > > > they
> > > > > > > > looked at me
> > > > > > > > > > like i`m from mars.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > *Maximooo <Maximooo@>* wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Stick Slick. I'm sold on this this stuff. It's
> natural
> > > and
> > > > > non
> > > > > > > > polluting
> > > > > > > > > > bottom wax for your
> > > > > > > > > > surfboard. The idea is akin to waxing your
> snowboard,
> > > to
> > > > > provide a
> > > > > > > > slicker
> > > > > > > > > > surface for the
> > > > > > > > > > water to run off more smoothly, decreasing
> friction,
> > > thus
> > > > > > > > increasing speed
> > > > > > > > > > and response. $5
> > > > > > > > > > for a can that will last a year, wipe on, polish
> off,
> > > use
> > > > > once
> > > > > > every 7
> > > > > > > > > > sessions or so. Made from
> > > > > > > > > > Carnauba wax, it also helps to protect your bottom
> from
> > > UV
> > > > > > rays. My
> > > > > > > > > > Stretch 6'2" was
> > > > > > > > > > noticably faster and smoother. I'm going to try
> putting
> > > it
> > > > > on
> > > > > > my fins
> > > > > > > > > > too... see how that
> > > > > > > > > > works out.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Available at the new K-Star surf shop in Linda Mar
> > > shopping
> > > > > > center and
> > > > > > > > > > other fine surf shops.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------
> > > > > > > > > > Do you Yahoo!?
> > > > > > > > > > Get on board. You're
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> invited<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=40791/*http://advision.webevents.ya
> > > > > hoo.com/
> > > > > > > handraisers>to
> > > > > > > > try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>