Re: [Paddlewise] Paddle Shafts

From: John Winters <735769_at_ican.net>
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 07:34:18 -0400
Bob wrote;

-

>The written material on paddle shafts seems to indicate that a fg shaft
will
>be kinder to joints but I have been unable to detect much difference in my
2
>glass and one graphite shaft. I have met a few racers who train with glass
>to "protect joints" then race with carbon.

It would be interesting to measure the flexure of different shafts and
return rate and then compare them to paddler perceptions. The caveat would
be that the blades, lengths, and weights would have to be the same so there
would be no confusing of issues.

>
>There doesn't seem to be anything definitive. At the same time, water is a
>liquid, last time I looked and would probably have more give then either
>shaft material.

This seems so logical and yet paddler perceptions don't agree. When I was
making custom paddles for people with shoulder and arm problems they felt
that there was a difference as we softened up the shaft (while leaving the
blade constant). It surprised me then and I still am surprised since I
could detect no noticeable difference.

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

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Received on Tue Oct 06 1998 - 04:38:57 PDT

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