Re: [Paddlewise] Paddling gears?

Bob wrote;

Re: canoe Vs kayak paddle

>Hank and I have traded email on this subject before.  I understand how
>leverage works and, in theory, his argument.  In practice, it works like
>this for me.  When I'm paddling normally, my hands are about 22" apart on
>the shaft.  On each side, there is about 8" between my hand and the throat
>of the blade (depending on how you measure where the blade starts) and
>24.5" between my hand and the tip of the blade.  Wouldn't I get roughly
the
>same amount of leverage if I used a canoe paddle that fit these
>specifications?
>
Yes, you would. I think Hank was talking about the overall power in the
system. Sit-and-switch paddling seems to work best with bent shaft paddles
and a higher  seating arrangement.

Some one mentioned that sprint kayaks were faster than sprint  canoes and
this is true over the full course length but canoes are faster in the first
100 metres. Also, the boats are different so it isn't really quite so clear
that it is the paddling style that is the whole difference.

Nevertheless, it seems that the kayak paddle is more effective. The issue
of cadence is important since it is possible to  have too high a cadence as
well as too low a cadence. This was one area that the Speed Boss
revolutionised rowing. It was discovered that greatest speed was achieved
not by rowing faster than a specific cadence for each crew.

Steve wrote about the Voyageurs.

Most deaths and accidents to voyageurs happened on the portages or in
rapids. Strangulated hernia was the big killer if I remember correctly.
They did use small paddles but they also paddled 16 hours per day. Hard to
do that with a large paddle. Hell, hard to stay awake 16 hours a day for
me. They stopped every hour for  a smoke break.

They also a rotten diet and few lived past their thirties.

Not sure they were good people to emulate.



Cheers,
John Winters
Redwing Designs
Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft
http://home.ican.net/~735769/




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