On 07/17/98 14:22:24 you wrote: I've enjoyed the discussion on Greenland paddles and have toyed with the idea of building one myself - but after I build my second wood kayak - one must have their priorities after all ;-) I'd like to address the question about throw-weight or paddle inertia. Its an important question and a potential energy sapper. Physics states that an object moving thru the space will continue in a straight line until a force acts on that object. One of the replies to this question suggested that since the paddle is moving more or less in a circular or elliptical manner without stops, that this "throw-weight" is not important. This is not accurate, paddle inertia is very important. If you tie a string to an object and swing that object around your hand, the centripetal (center-seeking) force provided by your hand to the string (to keep the object from flying out straight is given by Force=(mass)X(velocity squared)/(radius squared). This equation tells us the faster we swing the paddle, the force necessary to hold the paddle will increase rapidly, such as doubling the stroke speed will increase the force required to keep the paddle in its path by a factor of 4. I had an opportunity to test this the otherday. I was out paddling when I met this young couple who were neighbors of mine. The wife had a difficult time keeping up (nice kayak but no upper body strength). I offered to switch paddles with her, which she did, and for the next two hours, I paddled with her beautiful Sawyer paddle and she used my beat-up chipped Eddyline Swift paddle (bought used for $135). The wood paddle felt heavier to me but I really noticed the difference when it was in motion - felt more cumbersome. When she handed it back to me, she took her wood paddle and said, "wow, that's heavier". I had the same reaction, my paddle seemed like a feather after using the Sawyer. Some good things about the wood paddle, it was noticeably warmer than my fiberglass shafted paddle and the varnished finish seemed stickier and much easier to grip than my paddle (can you varnish over fiberglass?) Now, before I get flamed, the greenland paddle is shorter with smaller blades than the Sawyer paddle I had and would obviously be easier to paddle into wind - I can't speak to advantages or disadvantages of Greenland paddle, never used one but I'd like to try one someday. Also, I'm not against wood, I use my Pygmy plywood kayak all the time now because its 11 lbs lighter than my fiberglass Easyrider Eskimo 17', easier to maintain and easier to get on and off my van. Good paddling and may all jetskis run out of gas Phil Baumgaertner Bremerton, WA > >This is a question about Greenland paddles. Maybe Chuck Holst and John >Winter might have something to say. > >Now the questions. By the way the weight doesn't really bother me but >prompted this. >1 Throw wieght-what is it and how is it helpful or a hindrance? > >I'm tired of all this ultralight carbon or flatulium filled with hydrogen >core this and that. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Jul 19 1998 - 11:24:18 PDT
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