[Paddlewise] : Paddles You Use

(a) in a tamdem canoe as stern paddler, i use 52 inch paddles - a staight
wood, a wooden wenonah 18 oz bent shaft,  or a barton 9 oz bent shaft.

(b) in a solo flat water touring canoe, i use 51 inch paddles - zaveral 8.5
oz bent shaft, zaveral 9.5 oz straight, or gillespie ~20 oz ultra light
double-bent shaft.

(c) in a 22 in wide touring kayak, i use paddles by Current Designs:
220cm/44oz with 5 7/8 inch blade or 220cm/48oz with 7 1/2 inch blade.

considering the canoe paddles. in high winds, the barton blade catches too
much wind loading so i prefer a zaveral paddle - however my favorite is the
gillespie because it is wood and has the best connection between me and the
water. instead of a bent shaft, i use the straight zaveral for better
control while surfing waves. 

considering the kayak paddles. i'm just getting used to paddling a kayak.
my preference is for the narrower paddle because it is lighter and catches
less wind. Top and cruising speeds are about the same with these two
paddles.

for distances less than 6 or 8 miles, any paddle works fine for me.

bye bye bliven
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