This is a question about Greenland paddles. Maybe Chuck Holst and John Winter might have something to say. About four months ago I read Chucks' instructions on to how to make a Greenland paddle. A well written piece and a great starting point. I am now just finishing my sixth paddle. I am really enjoying how significant small changes can be and love how the basic dimensions are based on your body. But up until now, I have been using plane old lumber yard western red ceder. Inexpensive and as it turns out quite light. Now this sixth paddle I decided I was close enough to what I thought the final design should be. I was surprised at how much heavier my new choice of wood was-Yellow ceder. Beautiful straight grain stuff and stronger that the red ceder. Because the yellow ceder is stronger I could make the overall paddle more delicate. But the weight is still noticeable. 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? 2 These wooden paddles are very buoyant. With a normal paddling cadence, I'm guessing, about 75% of the time a third of the paddle is in the water. This part in the water is floating pushing upward. What are the dynamics here-does it tie in with throw weight? I'm tired of all this ultralight carbon or flatulium filled with hydrogen core this and that. So much seems to be going toward racing and white water.I enjoy the fact people think the Greenland paddle is weird. Then it is a simple matter of showing how versatile a tool this is. Most often it is then "can I try it?'. I'm guessing that the Greenland paddles shape, which is quite sculptural, has helped keep this wonderful paddle on the periphery. Manufacturing difficulties due to this shape and the added problem of body proportions. It is to bad such an appropriate ocean paddle has been left on the margins. One other observation that I found interesting is that women far out number men in their acceptance and use of this paddle I'm sure they are not just trying to please me, I'm 83 and very wrinkled. They are very naturally graceful and the body / kayak movements are not the twitchy spastic motions used with a europaddle. Thank You time for my nap *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> was surprised at how much heavier my new choice of wood was-Yellow ceder. > Beautiful straight grain stuff and stronger that the red ceder. Because the > yellow ceder is stronger I could make the overall paddle more delicate. But > the weight is still noticeable. A had a paddle made with douglas fir. It was a good muscle builder to paddle with it. The one is use primarily now is made out of a redwood 2x4, encapsulated in fiberglass and with epoxy tips. It is very light, and definitely lighter than any $300+ fiberglass paddles that I have seen in stores. > 2 These wooden paddles are very buoyant. With a normal paddling cadence, > I'm guessing, about 75% of the time a third of the paddle is in the water. > This part in the water is floating pushing upward. What are the dynamics > here-does it tie in with throw weight? With a good Greenland stroke, the blades enter the water at negative angles and pull down. Look at it like an inverted wing. That should more than compensate for any buoyancy. The buoyancy of the Greenland paddle makes it easy to make a static brace, the one in which you put the paddle behind your neck and lay face up on the water to rest and watch the birdies. > One other observation that I found > interesting is that women far out number men in their acceptance and use of > this paddle I'm sure they are not just trying to please me, I'm 83 and > very wrinkled. They are very naturally graceful and the body / kayak > movements are not the twitchy spastic motions used with a europaddle. Women have a natural tendency to use more their stronger hips, and less their arms. That means that women have a natural tendency to make very good and efficient Greenland strokes. For men it is a skill that has to be learned. - Julio *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Gordon wrote; (SNIP) > >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? Since the paddle blades move in a kind of elliptical orbit with no real stopping and starting I am not sure that the "throw weight" (I am guessing by throw weight one means the moment of inertia) is all that big a deal for sea kayaks. I suspect the length of most Greenland style paddles does have an effect. I think the weight in general is a bit of a bummer since you have to hold the thing up. My personal problems with the longish Greenland paddle are that one cannot effectively paddle close to the boat, body rotation is hindered, and one cannot use the vertical sweeping stroke that provides the most power (racing wing stroke) . > >2 These wooden paddles are very buoyant. With a normal paddling cadence, >I'm guessing, about 75% of the time a third of the paddle is in the water. >This part in the water is floating pushing upward. What are the dynamics >here-does it tie in with throw weight? As long as you don't have so much flotation that you have to push the bade down into the water I can't think why it would be a problem. > >I'm tired of all this ultralight carbon or flatulium filled with hydrogen >core this and that. So much seems to be going toward racing and white >water.I enjoy the fact people think the Greenland paddle is weird. Then it >is a simple matter of showing how versatile a tool this is. Most often it >is then "can I try it?'. I'm guessing that the Greenland paddles shape, >which is quite sculptural, has helped keep this wonderful paddle on the >periphery. Manufacturing difficulties due to this shape and the added >problem of body proportions. It is to bad such an appropriate ocean paddle >has been left on the margins. One other observation that I found >interesting is that women far out number men in their acceptance and use of >this paddle I'm sure they are not just trying to please me, I'm 83 and >very wrinkled. They are very naturally graceful and the body / kayak >movements are not the twitchy spastic motions used with a europaddle. We have gone around and around on this but to my knowledge no one has ever presented a sound reason why the high aspect ratio paddle is better than a low aspect ratio paddle other than a possible improvement in rolling ability. It seems to me that ones affection for one or the other seems to have more to do with aesthetics than anything else. Actually making Greenland paddles in any material is no more difficult than making more modern blades made with an airfoil shape. I suspect the motions of users of modern paddles are not caused by the paddle but are the result of the type of paddling being done and the style of paddler. If you want to see grace watch Renn Crichlow racing with his wing paddle. When his stroke is slowed down in slow motion film it is physical poetry. Each stroke is symmetrical and the body rotation is like modern dance. What is often deemed graceful is really just slower. Anyway, if you like it, what difference does it make why you like it. You aren't likely to die because you use one or the other. 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/ ***************************************************************************
Actually, the use of any type of paddle, in a boat, on water, siginifcantly increases your risk of dieing. That is compared to staying away fron the water in the first place. Those of us who must (for whatever reason) go to or on the water, accept the risks and usually do our best to reduce/manager the risks and provide ourselves a way to recover when something dangerous happens. :-))) :-))) michael 735769_at_ican.net wrote: > Anyway, if you like it, what difference does it make why you like it. You > aren't likely to die because you use one or the other. > > 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/ ***************************************************************************
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