Re: [Paddlewise] Solid Paddle Floats, shafts breaking?

From: Shawn Baker <shawnkayak_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 09:00:10 -0700 (PDT)
> I paddle a Lightning standard shaft.  (Yeah, I am enough of a 
>nerd to use ultralite blades). What to you think the breaking 
>strength of that paddle is?

Those Lightnings are pretty burly--read my post to Joan's query. 
Essentially, you want to use the paddlefloat outrigger for support, but
learn to use a swim-kicking motion to help you up onto the aft deck,
rather than having to climb aboard and put so much pressure on the
paddle (and a lot of strain on your upper body!)

> How much buoyancy do you think a 
Northwater paddle float has?  I am sure it is less than 25 pounds. 

I'd guess 15-20 pounds or so.

>How much force does a paddler put on a shaft when they do a 
>full-power forward stroke or an extended or slap brace? 

Would you believe 5-7 lbs?
A strong touring stroke is probably only 3-4 lbs.

>(Much less an over the paddle assisted rescue)

Here you probably have the potential to break paddles easier than with
a paddlefloat rescue.  Much less "give" in the system.

>Has anyone on this list ever heard of anyone breaking a shaft of a
>decent paddle, even an ultralight shaft, in a paddle float rescue?  

Yes.

>Seems to me like even an object with 50 bounds buoyancy would just go 
>down before even my beautiful old Malone would break.  

It should, unless you apply the weight suddenly, and the float doesn't
sink _fast_ enough.

>I do like your kayak building pages...could help me out if I have the
good >fortune to build a clc boat.  

Thanks!  Hey, whatever you would ever choose to build, I'd be happy to
be of assistance.

Safe paddling,
Shawn

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Received on Thu Apr 19 2001 - 09:00:49 PDT

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