Re: [Paddlewise] Paddling in a Straight Line

Dave wrote;




>(http://www.paddles.com/library/straight.html) has an interesting
>treatise by Clark Bowlen entitled "Paddling a Sea Kayak in a Straight
>Line --Straight Talk".  Food for thought.  I'd be interested in reaction
>from folks who have studied efficient paddling.

Despite many things that I agree with in the article (particularly the
mechanics of the stroke, its effects, and the value of shorter paddles than
are commonly sold) I think it puts forward a rather one dimensional
approach to the problem.

For example the comment that "....tracking is 80% paddler and 20% boat" can
easily be disproved. For example, sprint canoes must track straight with
minimal attention to turning. Thus, the boats are designed to do just that.
In short, the boat is designed to suit the need. The same principle, when
applied to sea kayaks, can produce a straight tracking boat that, when
coupled with a shape that turns easily when heeled, achieves both
objectives - manoeuvrability and straight tracking. More over, I suspect
even Clark will agree that some boats are difficult to control and if he
hasn't yet paddled one I would be happy to point him in the proper
direction. :-)

The kayak can be viewed as a system in which hull, strokes, paddle, and
paddler are merged into a whole that,  hopefully, fulfils the paddler's
objectives. Bowlen appears to recognise only two kinds of paddlers, those
who "... want to kick back, relax, and still go pretty straight" and those
who "...paddle better, if you want a boat that will play in the waves,
surf, do eddy turns in tidal rivers, meander up marsh creeks without a
struggle..."

I would suggest that a whole range of paddlers fits in between that can
benefit from boats designed to suit their paddling style. There are boats
that track well without  a great deal of attention and yet still "play in
the waves, surf, do eddy turns in tidal rivers, meander up marsh creeks
without a struggle".

When Bowlen says,"I think because kayaks are easier to paddle straight than
canoes, that kayaks actually foster bad technique -- to the point that
their design must compensate for it." I think he ignores the many different
objectives in kayaking. This seems to me to be one of failings in taking an
elitist attitude to paddling - the idea that one's is the "right" way and
the "right" objective.  While there may be "better" techniques that
maximise power and efficiency does that mean that  being less that 100%
efficient is "bad"?

I fall into this trap as well when talking about boat design. To me,
greater efficiency is "Better" and it may be - if it matters to the
paddler. When it doesn't matter and doesn't put the paddler at physical
risk then "Better" isn't really "better" at all. It is just different.

I was interested in his comment that, "The shorter the paddle, the more
horizontally it can be held and still maintain a short lever arm. This is
the basis of Greenland technique, which uses short paddles held
horizontally. " This comment does not fit with the paddle lengths provided
by Brand, Peterson, and others. It also ignores that many boats with
relatively high freeboard and wide beam that might require long paddles
just to reach the water. Since I have heard this comment before I wonder if
it does not reflect a local application of the term "Greenland paddle" and
may be responsible for some of the confusion surrounding term.

So, other than a bit of excess zeal, overly aggressive use of the verb "to
be",  and an occasional technical lapse I think the article presents useful
information that agrees with what I have been promoting  here and
elsewhere.

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




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