(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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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