[Paddlewise] kayaking with canoe paddle

I was out with a friend this weekend kayaking for a few hours.
Neil his name were as mine is Niels. (this cause dsome problems when we
worked in ajoining behive offices as most dropped the s off my name.)

He has some some of shoulder desease that has casued the linings to be
damaged.  After many doctor visits and a year of physio therapy, it has
not improved for kayaking.  He was informed that kayaking will not furhter
damage the joints, but after a halff horu of paddleing the pain becomes to
much.  FOr a while we were looking a peddle kayaks, but the cost of buying
another when he already has 2.

So he took a canoe paddle, shortened it and used 2 hose clamps to lash
together and to alow some ajustablity while determining the length.

I was impressed a how fast he was able to maintain his speed while we were
out together. He was not slower, but we were not seriuoly motoring to get
to some destination. He is only able to paddle on one side and therefore
the rudder on his Pices is a definate assest.  No shoulder pain nad he now
dosen't have to get up kayaking.

He is trying to determine the best canoe paddle to buy, from the blade
point of view to shorten. ( ie wide blade, bent blade, beaver tail blade etc.)

Niels Henriksen
Ottawa, Canada

There wasa an interesting article in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper today.

Back in the depresion thirtes perople built small boast fro kids to use in
the thousand Islands.  It was made of corrogated sheet metal. Joint at the
front witha vertical piece of wood to make a point. At the back a square
stern, rounded bottem piece of wood formed the transon, and a peice acroos
teh middle for a thwart, and clauking to seal.  There is to be a regatta
on Aug 17 in Gananoque of the resurgnece of these boats.  Who says you
can't build a bost of of next to nothing.


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