|
Based on my extremely limited knowledge of float design and theory, here is why you don't see that style float anymore.
Glassy or calm water operations. They stick like glue, due to the surface tension of water. You would need lot's of horsepower to get off the water. Glenn Curtiss figured that out back in 1911, and came up with the step design to help break that surface tension. Float design hasn't changed much since.
Rough water, rough ride, very very rough ride. The best riding pleasure boats have a deep vee hull, flat hulls, like rafts, ride pretty bad.
Directional control, they are like ski's, just as happy to go sideways as straight. Which can easily induce a water loop (not a good thing, think ground loop), and some nasty side loads on the struts and attachments.
By the way, how did they steer with these old floats? I don't recall seeing a water rudder on any of these older floatplanes. Then again, maybe because of the flat bottoms they didn't steer too well.
But it's your plane, so try the old style, you can always update the floats after some taxi testing.
|