[Paddlewise] Greemnland Paddles

Hi Rob
Just got around to rereading a print of your post of the 15th April.
Quote " Bottom line is I want a longer paddle, to get the stroke rate down
and a larger blade area for easier bracing"
I am nor sure about the larger blade area because of the extra wind
resistance of the unfeathered blade in the air. Of course the forward tilt
of the top edge of the blade with the Greenland paddling style helps. All
that I have read about Greenland paddles is indicates the Inuit's used very
narrow blades.  I saw a photo taken Paul Caffyn during his Greenland trip of
and old paddle beside a kayak in an old loft.  I can only guess the relative
dimensions but it looked very long and narrow.
Also the second two paddles I made for Pam and myself are the same length as
the fist ones, 2.43m but 12mm narrower at 75mm for Pam's  and 81mm for mine.
Although the blade shape is slightly different, parallel for the first 250mm
from the tip of the blades in the new ones compared to a constant taper from
tip to loom for the older ones, the blade are is less for the new ones. But
despite this they are more efficient with noticeably more grip on the water.
When at cruising speed, about 7kms/hr in our double the cadence is just over
60/min. I stress that Pam and I are no longer young but we usually manage to
keep up with all but the best of the younger paddlers.


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