speed of kayak, canoe, float tube

I'd like to know what the record measured speed of a kayak, canoe and float tube is. Can anyone answer that?

I'd be willing to wager that the top speed of K1 and C1 racing hulls is near 10 mph in a sprint.

Belay that. I just looked up the times for the 200m sprint results from 2005. A K1 kayaker did 200 meters in 35.289 seconds. Approximately 20 km/h or 12 mi/h. Since these boats are limited to 5.20 meters in length, I bet a top end surf ski is even faster.

A C1 canoeist did 200m in 39 seconds and change. You can do that math, as well as look up world record for float tubes.

Scott

I can hit 5mph w/a tail wind!   but can't bust 3.5 w/a header!

skip the speed record-- I want to know the single run, unsupported distance record!

Would LOVE to hear a distance record for a float tube. 

California-> Hawaii has been done solo, unsupported, in an essentially off the shelf Necky Tandem. There have been Trans-Atlantic trips going back to the early part of the 20th century as well, but I don't know those particular details.

Scott

I remember reading an account of a guy that paddled from CA to HI...sounded long and...well...mostly boring! LOL  Quite the accomplishment

Still dying to hear the distance record for a float tube.

Still dying to hear the distance record for a float tube.

Ok, I'll start... several years ago I kicked a float tube across the north arm of Lake Crowley, and back, into the wind (seemingly in both directions)... very hard, very stupid, and extra el-sucko...  probably somewhere around 1.5 miles with the wind drift, give or take... oh lest we forget... EXTRA EL-SUCKO!!!

...but I caught a mess of hard fighting Crowley rainbows, so in hindsight I guess it was a rub.

There is the story of a float tuber making it across Lake Pyramid. I think it is Ike from Cabela's fly dept. by Reno.
I heard he almost died. The next time I see him, I'll ask.
I would like to know the speed of tubes, however. Then it would be possible to anticipate course made good in currents, etc.. If no one knows, then I will assume that it is about 1 knot. If one of you has checked speed with a GPS and subtracted for speed due to current, that would be useful. It would also be good to compare speed of canoes with kayaks. Eventually, I'll just take a GPS out in my tube or yak and check it.

Very difficult to make sustained 1 knot in a float tube for more than 25-50 yards.  For long distances figure 0.25 to 0.5 knots (max).  If you only get in your float tube a few times a year, and/or aren't in good shape, then reduce that speed estimate accordingly.

Someone needs to lobby for float tube events at the Olympics.

I should also include desiring to know the speed of a pontoon boat and of one of those life rafts from Montana with the open floor in one half of it for the fisher's feet to stick into the water with fins. The Montana raft thing uses oars too.
I did put about 200 miles on in my tube last year, and the 2 Delta trips are why I am trying to get some use of my kayak when I go to the Delta now. The cardio benefits of the vigorous tubing for 9 hours a trip are amazing, but I would rather forgo the pleasure. The Delta days, I probably went about one half of a mile in 9 hours if you count distance over land. Through the water, maybe I went 9 miles.
I went kayak bassing with HobieBlue last week and caught that bass you see in my picture. I have a loon so I paddled with a canoe paddle in my left hand while casting poppers with my fly rod with my right. It was a lot easier than with a tube.

Very difficult to make sustained 1 knot in a float tube for more than 25-50 yards.  For long distances figure 0.25 to 0.5 knots (max).  If you only get in your float tube a few times a year, and/or aren't in good shape, then reduce that speed estimate accordingly.

With my tube I have done 3/4 miles in 20 minutes a couple of times. But is has to be without the wind factor. Why did I time myself? I have to get out of the water 1/2 hour before sunset in my lakes. 

My top float tube speed was near Bullfrog Marina when a male California sea lion was swimming towards me and then dove under water and I was going to shore to pee urgently anyway. The combined motivation got me to 3 knots (walking speed) for the last 50 feet. I believe my tube was planing.

The combined motivation got me to 3 knots (walking speed) for the last 50 feet. I believe my tube was planing.

You would have beaten a few kayakers. 
But there is really no need to go to shore to pee.