[Paddlewise] Wooden Paddles. . .

Greetings Paddlewisers,





Someone not long ago commented to me that they prefer wooden paddles.  At the
time, I just made a mental note of it.  Then I tried to figure out why.  The
only thing I could think of was that they float, but other materials do, also.
I had been meaning to ask this list (after trying to get answers elsewhere and
failing), but then I was in the LL Store in Maine a couple weeks ago (pass by
there regularly), and they had a bunch of wooden paddles.  The ones with the
LL Store logo were relatively inexpensive ($129), and seemed about as light
and well made as the more expensive ones.  So I bought one.





I've paddled three times with it now, each time for at least three or four
hours.  I really like it, but I still can't say why.  On one trip (off Cape
Ann out to the Dry Salvages), I traded paddles with my partner, who had a
metal paddle (I'm not even sure what kind of metal, but it was a relatively
cheap paddle, not a Werner or anything).  I hated her paddle and quickly
wanted mine back.  Something about the feel of it in my hands bothered me (I
was wearing Chota gloves, FWIW).  I can't explain it. . . 





I guess my question is rather general: why do some people prefer wooden
paddles?  As I said, I do like mine, but I just don't know why.





Thanks for any thoughts you all might have.  





Mark Lane





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