Re: [Paddlewise] paddle motion

From: Rich Kulawiec <rsk_at_gsp.org>
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 20:44:12 -0400
On Wed, Jul 22, 1998 at 08:07:17AM -0400, John Winters wrote:
> Then can you explain what causes those eddies around the blade with each
> stroke. Also, can you explain how water that cannot support sheer forces
> can fail to flow around the blade.

Sure.  Nobody's forward stroke is perfect.  And nobody's blade design
is perfect either -- which is why it slips a bit.  Both are imperfections
to be minimized, but both are non-zero.

> Also, can you explain how it is that
> some people talk about how the blade slips thought the water more easily
> with some blade than others if the paddle doesn't move through the water.

I'm sorry, I've no idea why people would talk like this.  Why not ask them?

> Another curious thing. If the blade doesn't move, how does a sculling
> stroke work? and a brace?

We were discussing forward strokes, not sculling strokes or braces. 

> I also wonder how the water knows when the stroke is being correctly
> performed.

The water doesn't "know" anything.

> Another puzzle. If the boat is moving and I stick the paddle down in the
> water at the perfect angle etc. why doesn't the boat just stop since the
> paddle doesn't move?

This is not a puzzle at all.

---Rsk
Rich Kulawiec
rsk_at_gsp.org
***************************************************************************
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 Wed Jul 22 1998 - 17:45:37 PDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:29:58 PDT