Rvilter_at_aol.com wrote: > 1. The Wayfarer blade face had a dihedral shape whereas the Lightning blade > face is flat. In my experience, a dihedral face helps prevent "fluttering" > of the blade. This would seem to make the Wayfarer more attractive, but I > would like to hear some input on whether this is a real or an imagined > problem with the Lightning. The Lightning Standard Tour has been my paddle of choice for over 5 years. Naturally, I love it. Before that, I used the Werner San Juan, and discovered it was too much blade for my joints (elbow and wrist problems big time). At first, I felt the Lightning fluttered some, but now it NEVER flutters. I think it is a matter of "grooving" your stroke, not the dihedral. > 2. I don't want a paddle blade that is too wide (or perhaps more accurately, > has a large surface area). An example of a paddle blade which I find too > "big" for my taste is the Werner San Juan, which has a length of 22" and a > width of 6 3/4". By comparison, the Wayfarer (length 18.7" and width 7.1") > and the Lightning (length 16.5" and width 7.25") also seem to be on the "big > side". I would like to hear your views on whether you thing the Wayfarer and > the Lightning paddle like "big" bladed paddles. No. The Standard paddles like a smaller version of the San Juan. In crude terms, the WSJ has an "area" of 148.5 sq inches and the LST an "area" of 119.6 sq inches. (I got these numbers multiplying the dimensions you gave. A more accurate comparison could be obtained by outlining each blade on graph paper and counting squares, or cutting out the outline and weighing the paper.) Of course, the best test is to **paddle** them. Can't hurt them if you avoid rocks -- get the retailer to let you borrow them for a couple hours of testing. My local paddleshop would do that. > 3. I tend to use a low-angle paddle style as opposed to a high-angle style. > Is this a relevant factor when selecting between these two paddles? My Lightning paddles well in low-angle style. My SO has a Sea Swift (Eddyline's "max" paddle blade), which demands a more vertical style, which aggravates my tendonitis. This is definitely a place where YMMV! Strongly suggest you field test a paddle type before you adopt it. I was lucky -- the paddle I have been using the last >five years was on sale, and I picked it up on a whim, not knowing its length (225 cm -- short for most folks) and style were ideal for me. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sat Feb 05 2000 - 18:06:28 PST
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