2 Jun 2000 "Sailboat Restorations, Inc." (Mark Lane) wrote: Subject: Wooden Paddles. . . ...then I was in the LL [Bean] Store in Maine... and they had a bunch of wooden paddles. The ones with the LL [Bean] Store logo were relatively inexpensive ($129)... So I bought one. I have that paddle. I've used it exclusively for my entire sea kayaking career which spans six weeks and two trips including the famous PaddleWise West Point to Bear Mountain Bridge And Beyond Expidition led by Ralph Diaz this past Memorial Day. I like the paddle so far, but at the end of that last trip, when I was forced to sprint the last half mile by a sadistic member of the expidition (note this is the same person who would replying to my inquiries if this was extreme kayaking yet when 1. we did an open water crossing of the river, 2. we landed on a remote beachhead where we found a number of 3 foot high rock piles that were probably built by indians to mark burial grounds, and we were in definate danger of being subjected to a curse, 3. we were buffeted by 18" swells from boat wakes, including mighty commercial shipping that came within 600 feet of running us over, and 4. when I was pinned momentarily against a rock at the foot waters of the mighty Popolopen waterfall, and I would say... "are we extreme kayaking yet?", and he would roll his eyes and mumble things, and tell me to stop zig zagging. The same guy who when he would observe me attempting some course correction stroke that I saw a picture of in Derek ! Hutchenson's book, would roll his eyes, and mumble things about people who come from Brooklyn. Anyway, despite my weakened condition from paddling 17 miles. (Everyone else paddled 14, but I was zig zagging out of control most of the way down and did an extra 3.) Fortunatley, I had an LL Bean compass strapped to my LL Bean Kayak so I had no fear of becoming lost on the river, and besides one kayaker or another kindly took turns paddling with me as I tried to keep up. And despite the raw chopmeat that was formerly my underarm skin caused by my LL Bean anti-chaffing shirt, which later required medical treatment by Dr. Volin. He plied me with beer as an anesthetic, and gave me a six course dinner to distract me during this treatment, which caused me to stumble wildly around his house, as my legs no longer functioned properly anyway after sitting in a kayak for such an extended period. So what was I getting at, oh yeah.... I noticed that when paddling real hard, the paddle wobbled. It didn't just bow and snap back, it was a definate wobbling. Is this normal, or something that wouldn't happen with a higher quality paddle. Maybe it wouldn't happen if I didn't weigh 240 lbs? Of course if I lost weight, I wouldn't have as wide a girth to block the wind from disturbing delicate things carried on my back deck. Tom Dowling Yahoo! Photos -- now, 100 FREE prints! *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Re LL Paddle, Tom said: [snip] > I have that paddle. [snip] > > So what was I getting at, oh yeah.... I noticed that when paddling real hard, the paddle wobbled. It didn't just bow and snap back, it was a definate wobbling. Is this normal, or something that wouldn't happen with a higher quality paddle. [snip] Um. . . I really don't know. You see, I don't do extreme kayaking. I only kayak in my neighbor's pool. <g> (Actually, we did do this, just to test what happened when you filled the boat with water, how to turn it over again, etc.) Anyway, in the ordinary paddling that I have done with the LL Paddle it seems just fine. And I do think it's purdy (I could live without the LL Logo, but hey, it was $50 cheaper than paddles with other logos. . . ). So -- thanks to all you have responded to my question about wooden paddles. It seems the answers were pretty much what I had thought -- they're pretty, they feel good, and they perhaps flex a little more than other kinds of paddles. I think I'll keep mine. Mark *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 6/3/00 5:43:52 PM !!!First Boot!!!, sailboatrestorations_at_worldnet.att.net writes: << . And I do think it's purdy (I could live without the LL Logo, but hey, it was $50 cheaper than paddles with other logos. >> The paddle was more than likely manufactured by Bending Branches, Grey Owl or another large wooden paddle maker. If you are willing to buy fifty or so, they will place your logo on the paddle. To Tom: Tom, you may have been pulling too hard. Try to use more torso and less arm/shoulder. Bruce McC WEO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Mark wrote, "so -- thanks to all you have responded to my question about wooden paddles. It seems the answers were pretty much what I had thought -- they're pretty, they feel good, and they perhaps flex a little more than other kinds of paddles. I think I'll keep mine." Came in at the end of this thread, I guess, but I'm surprised that there were no posts from other "Greenland" style paddlers. The list of likes would include all the above noted advantages, and would add the ease of sculling and rolling to the equation, the total appropriateness --- if that's a word --- of the use the long, narrow indigenous paddle with many of our more "Greenland" style composite and plastic kayaks and many wood kit boats, the satisfaction of carving your own anthropometrically designed paddle where you can seriously achieve some kharma with the paddle --- oh, and the fact the you can carve one with simple hand tools for $5 to $10 does seem to enhance the kharma somewhat. Using an indigenous paddle is not the same as using a wooden "europaddle". Don't assume that the same techniques apply. But there's a wealth of information out there on Greenland paddles and paddling that is easily available, and, for some paddlers and some boats, it's a natural! Jack Martin *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I started paddling using a Euro paddle a number of years ago, not knowing of alternatives. I did short-term, distance, and rolling with it. Gradually, as I learned of Greenland paddles and began experimenting with making my own, I discovered more and more situations where I preferred the Greenland style. For example, I just did a two-day, approximately 40-mile, overnight paddle, and found myself stowing the Euro paddle about 4 miles into the trip and completing the rest of the paddle with my Greenland. There is little sacrifice of speed (if you care about those things) over a long-distance trip, IMHO, by using a narrower design. If anything, pushing a smaller volume of water per stroke seeems to extend endurance. And I like the way my hands meet the shoulders of the paddle. I still intend to keep the Euro for situations in which you need the most power per stroke per unit time, but those circumstances are pretty rare. If you do switch to Greenland style paddles, though, make sure you give yourself time to adjust to the paddling styles as well. I have never tried the narrower-bladed manufactured paddles, and would be interested in a comparison from any who have paddled both Greenland and narrow, Euro-design progeny. Tom Joyce *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 6/5/00 2:26:57 PM Pacific Daylight Time, cholst_at_bitstream.net writes: << I believe (without tank tests or calculations, Mr. Winters) that it is the double-convex section of this blade that gives the blade so much lift when it is swept or sculled, and even for the forward stroke, if you use the right technique. Certainly it is much easier to scull with than a Euro-style paddle, because it has a less critical blade angle. Unfortunately, I have not stressed this enough in my instructions on how to make one, >> Mmmm, lets see. As I look down my Chuck Holst inspired Greenland paddle it probably could use a l-i-t-t-l-e more ovaling towards the ends. Yeah my Windswift never gets any use anymore. For me Green land style paddling is the way to go. I use a style that's a bit more open than many stateside Greenland style "teachers" advocate. Looking at the Amphibious man video, former Greenland champ John Peterson's style is relaxed and somewhat open as I'm sure many native Greenlanders are... Walt Levins Portland,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/ ***************************************************************************
Jumping in pretty late here, but: Looks, warmth and (maybe, to a degree) flex are all good reasons to use wood, but one of my favorite qualities is the potential for thick blades. I haven't seen any wooden Euro style blades that have the thickness of a Greenland paddle, but many still have enough thickness and airfoil shape to be significant. Some feel to me as if they work well in wing-paddle mode, which is fun, but I couldn't prove that it is an advantage from a performance standpoint. OTOH, there is a clear and obvious advantage of a well airfoiled blade when sculling or sweep rolling. Rather than separating off the back of the blade, the flow can remain well attached, giving excellent lift. Initiation of the sweep with the blade immersed also feels much easier than with a dihedral blade dragging a huge wake. Since I started using my Bending Branches, I don't think I have missed a roll, even in about 20 flips while surf kayaking, and I'm not known for strong rolling or grace under panic (not that moderate surf is that threatening). I wrote a review of 9 paddles for SeaKayaker, which went to the printer a week ago today, so I don't want to say much more now, as they might not appreciate me scooping them here! Coming soon to a mailbox near you, if you subscribe... Mike Wagenbach "When I hear post-modernist jargon, I reach for my pistol." -me *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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