Re: [Paddlewise] Toksook Paddle

Bobm

I Haven't used a Toksook paddle, but I've seen a picture in SeaKayaker so
I know something about them. Your description just tends to reinforce my
impression that it is a cross between a greenland style paddle and a
modern composite paddle (e.g. Werner, LIghtning, etc.) Now that you have
described it in more detail, I am more convinced that my impression is
correct... symmetrical foil blades, and thick leading edge. These are
defining characteristics of a greenland paddle. I tend to doubt that the
toksook paddle handles any better than a greenland paddle however. In
fact, I bet it is a lot worse! My suggestion would be to make you own
Greenland paddle (can be done for less than $30 and a days work). If you
loathe the thought of manual labor or paddling with natural materials,
then the toksook is probably a great paddle.

Cheers,
Kevin


	 ___________________                                                            
	/   Kevin Whilden   \
       |Dept. of Geosciences ___
       |University of Washington \
       |kwhilden_at_u.washington.edu| 
        ________________________/                       

On Mon, 5 Apr 1999, Bob Tellefson wrote:

> Last week I had the good fortune to take a class with Derek Hutchinson.  It
> was meant to be a dry day, and was for the most part; a day focusing on
> paddle strokes.
> 
> Now those of you that know or have read Derek's writings, know that he
> hardly has any opinions at all. :-)  One of his opinions along the lines of
> "most light weight modern paddles are rubbish" got my attention;
> particularly when I was able to try out his paddle.
> 
> He calls it Toksook.  It has foam core symmetrical blades with the paddle
> shaft extended nearly to the end of the blade as a faired in 'backbone'.
> This faired in backbone gives the blade a wing cross section having the
> same convex surface on both faces.  The blade edges are thicker than most
> blades that I've seen.  That's my best description of it construction.
> 
> My experience using it was immediately positive.  We had been practicing
> sculling and I found it much easier to scull with his blade.  It was more
> forgiving than my thin blade with a curved power face; it was less likely
> to dive or flutter.  Sweeps were easier to control, more predictable.
> Others in the group had similar experiences with the Toksook.
> 
> Can anyone tell me more about this paddle?  Are there other designs like it?
> 
> Apparently they are made in very limited quantities in the UK.  I hope to
> get my hands on one but wonder what other paddles might provide a similar
> experience.
> 
> 
> Bob Tellefson
> Santa Barbara Kayak Assocation
> http://www.sbka.org
> 
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