Sorry Ralph, read to fast. > Rather, I meant that there would be some differences, > differences he probably had not tested out. For example, the blade shape of > the wing paddle is such that it is somewhat more difficult to slide into the > blade pocket of some inflatable paddlefloats... Here the most common inflatible float is the zoelzer one(12 and 20 litre vol., new is the double sided 2x7litre), I got it also. Itīs no problem for me to place the wing blade inside. There might be some floats where this could be a problem. But look at a "normal" wing paddle. Most of them are equal broad. The different point is, they are higher than all the other blades. But with an inflatible it shouldnīt be a real problem. By solid floats this is a more serious problem, okay. But Iīve never seen a solid one here. No one sells them, so Iīd thought to build an own one. Havnīt done yet. But the biggest problem with a wing paddle is, how does it behave by bracing or some special strokes? When I paddle first time with a wing paddle, I have to learn which strokes are forbidden with those paddles. But there are also very different bevaviours of the different type of wing blades. There are the old flat ones (struer type). By all modern blades the angle between blade and shaft and the angle in the blade itself differ quite extreme. In my opinion blades with low angles make the biggest problems. I use the Bracsa II, thats an very modern design with high angles. But I can do almost every normal touring stroke without big problems, except bracing strokes. If you do so, you will lose your stability immediately. Thats the problem if you are unscilled with those paddles. By the next shit wave you brace by reflex, even if you arenīt a very experienced paddler (like R.Siemer) and you capsize. I canīt understand why a friend of him lend a wing paddle, without the warning for the problems. The sea is a really bad place to test out new stuff first time. Siemers payed the highest price for this fault. Before someone mentions problems by rolling with wing paddles, I donīt have problems with it. Itīs quite easy to roll with them. If you are an experienced roller, you roll with everything. If this fails, I got my spare paddle. In a swimming hall I tested to grab half a spare paddle from behind me and roll with it. Works, but if I could do it in cold water??? I think it also depends on mental strength, I will write a thread on this point next time. So, I close with these words: Nobody is unuseless, you could be a warning example. (shorter then the german idiom, hope I hit the target) keep clear, safe paddling bye Jochen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Apr 20 2001 - 09:06:05 PDT
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