Most people start with one feather or the other and stick with it. Anything said about not having any problem doesn't mean much if you haven't tried the alternative until you are as competent either way. This isn't likely to happen because switching feathers around can play havoc with ones bracing. I started paddling with a $50 WW kayak that came with an ugly old unfeathered paddle. The first time I paddled into a stiff breeze and compared it to using my brothers feathered paddle I went home and sawed that sucker in two, put a sleeve inside, twisted it 90 degrees, and glued and duct taped it back together. It still wasn't a cool paddle by any means but I thought it worked a lot better in headwinds afterwards. Most of the surf stuff (other than the broken paddles experience) is speculation and I know all sorts of unfeathered paddlers who do just fine in the surf. I think there is an added risk to unfeathered (both to the paddle and the paddler) but I wouldn't base my choice on those finer points unless maybe surf was all I did. George Gronseth and I have had the feathered vs. unfeathered debate going on for years and most of the arguments one hears one way or the other can be countered quite effectively--or easily compensated for with a little technique (not that most paddlers have learned these techniques though, so they may be suffering needlessly due to their choice). To make a long story short we are still at odds and at last count seem to have agreed that low hand control (letting the shaft both rotate and pivot quite freely in the upper hand) works best whichever feather you choose. George thinks the headwind drag of unfeathered is insignificant compared to the total windage and water drag, but it sure feels like a lot of extra drag to me. He says your feeling overestimate the difference. I say I don't care even if you are right how it feels matters a whole lot to me. I'm from the "if it feels good do it" generation. I have always intended to someday do the calculations for the drag due to wind and water on a kayak and paddler for different wind speeds and then try to calculate the drag added to that by paddling feathered or unfeathered. being a sort of haywire mathematician I haven't done it yet and for me it would require hitting the books and some significant time. Anybody out there mathematically inclined who could figure this out without hitting the books too hard (or with a lot of time on your hands) want to give it a try. I've roughly estimated that the upper paddle blade travels at about 2.5 times the boat speed. If somebody takes up this challenge please let us know how you did the calculations so we can pick at them if the results don't fit our predrawn conclusions. Matt Broze www.marinerkayaks.com -----Original Message----- From: Mattson, Timothy G <timothy.g.mattson_at_intel.com> To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> Date: Tuesday, April 27, 1999 10:01 AM Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Dogmatic Feathered Paddlers In Surf > >I second Duane's comments about unfeathered paddles. > >I paddle regularly in the surf and on white water rivers with my unfeathered >paddle. I may only paddle in class III rivers (I'll be in class IV later >this summer), but I've surfed in rough water with big 12+ foot waves. I've >paddled my sea kayak in the open ocean in 25 knot winds and much higher >gusts. I've raced in a variety of conditions with my unfeathered wing >paddle (the only one I've ever seen). > >At no point have I felt limited by my unfeathered paddle. I regularly put >up with lectures from my paddling friends that eventually, I will find my >ability to deal with big nasty waves or high winds limited by my unfeathered >paddles. OK, maybe so -- but I haven't seen it yet. > >I agree with the comment someone made earlier. People use unfeathered >paddles 'cause thats the fassion and they look cool. Then, after the fact, >they manufacture reasons why the choice is surpior. > >I think everyone has their unique style of paddling and there is no best >angle to feather your paddle. Angle doesn't matter. Its what you do with >the thing that matters. > >--Tim > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Strosaker_at_aol.com [SMTP:Strosaker_at_aol.com] >> Sent: Monday, April 26, 1999 7:23 PM >> To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >> Subject: [Paddlewise] Dogmatic Feathered Paddlers In Surf >> >> Dogmatic Kayakers, >> >> I've done a lot of launching and landing through surf with an unfeathered >> paddle, and lately I've been surfing my sea kayak also. Not once has my >> unfeathered paddle caused me any problems. Of course, anytime I have to >> punch a wave, I do what we are supposed to, which is to tuck down tight on >> >> the front deck with the paddle down on the deck and parallel to the kayak. >> I >> also haven't had problems quickly digging in for the next forward stroke >> or >> bracing after punching through. >> >> On a recent paddle with six other kayakers, everyone but me decided to >> take a >> taxi back rather than fight rough breaking seas and 20-30 knot headwinds >> nine >> nautical miles to get back. They were all experienced and paddling >> feathered >> paddles while mine was unfeathered. However, I have to admit that this >> event >> was more a matter of skill, endurance and determination (my pod would add >> stupidity) rather than equipment. Regardless, it just goes to show that >> unfeathered paddles work just fine, even in a headwind. But let me add >> that >> I use small blades. >> >> I am not saying that everyone should use unfeathered paddles, because I >> believe each person should do whatever works best for him or her. >> However, I >> do believe that a lot of kayakers use a feathered paddle only because of >> dogma. >> >> Think for yourself and we will all be free! >> >> Duane Strosaker >> Southern California >> ************************************************************************** >> * >> PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >> Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >> Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >> Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >> ************************************************************************** >> * >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >*************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** 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 Tue Apr 27 1999 - 20:39:31 PDT
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