[Paddlewise] Bent Shaft Paddles

	OK, I'll bite from Oz on this thread and give an expat Zedlander's thumbs
up on the AT paddle.  If you Septics think this paddle is expensive, try
buying it in our money! [ yes, fellow paddlers down here also think I am
mad for spending more than A$600 on a paddle ]. 

	But wait;  there is reasoning behind this apparent extravagance. I am in
my 50s, and recently sustained work related wrist tendonitis severe enough
to require surgery.   Part of my own imposed ' therapy ' was to buy a bent
shaft paddle.

	 I took a deep breath and ordered an AT  breakdown touring paddle and when
I travelled recently to the US I collected it and brought it home as cabin
'luggage'. [ More on this aspect later]
	After a summer of use, including multi-day paddles, I can only support
what other PaddleWisers have stated about bent shafts.  As I noted some
months ago now, it takes some time to adapt to the different feel, but now
I cannot see myself going back to a straight shaft.
	I also note that the longer I paddle, both overall, and on trips, the more
I come to appreciate the ergonomic design of the AT. 
	As Larry has mentioned, the touring paddle seems 'underpowered' compared
with others, but that suits me.  I  am NOT  in seakayaking to win races.
And the acid test for me was paddling into a head wind of at least 30
sustained knots recently.  With the aerodynamics and lightness of the AT, I
was simply able to increase my stroke rate and make satisfactory progress
upwind.
	And while the paddle is beautifully made, a caveat is certainly its
ability to take knocks,  which takes me back to the point about travelling
with paddles.  Simply put, I would not trust my AT to the tender mercies of
baggage handlers at airports, etc.  In fact, my kit has sustained more
damage  in various loadings and offloadings of aircraft than in a dozen
rough beach landings.  So, if you are a folding kayaker, and fly with your
boat, I think it would be worth the argument to try to take the paddle in
the cabin with you. A tip;  wrap the paddle in clear plastic, otherwise it
looks suspiciously like a weapon you are toting around the departure lounge!
	There has been recent discussion in my club about protecting such paddles
from chips and knocks. One suggestion was to carefully trace a layer of
Loctite 406 glue around the edge of the blades.   I have not tried this
yet, probably out of concern that I will detract from the look of the AT.
Such vanity.   Has anyone tried this, or similar protective measures?

	Like others I have a choice of paddles, but as they say in the classics,
if you want to know which one is for you,  it is the one you instinctively
reach for at the beginning of a 30 mile day!    If a bent shaft gives me
another five to ten years on the water, the price is inconsequential.
	A disclaimer:  I have no commercial or any other involvement with the
makers and/or distributors of this paddle.

	Regards to all, 
	Peter Rattenbury
	Wollongong NSW 


***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************