I think the idea that the narrow shape of the Greenland paddle was dictated by available materials has been more or less debunked by various researchers. The Greenlanders did have the materials to make wider paddles, but evolved the narrow design, for reasons of paddling efficency and lor wind resistence. As for drag and slip: All paddles, narrow or wide, are subject to the same laws of physics. Narrow, high aspect ratio paddles don't "slip" any more than a narrow, high aspect ratio sailplane wing slips as it flies. Move a paddle or wing through a medium and it generates lift and drag. The more efficient the paddle and stroke, the more lift per unit of drag. Different shaped paddles and wings develop optimum ratios of lift and drag at different speeds- even if they have the same surface area. If drag were the only factor involved there'd be much less difference in paddling effort between narrow and wide paddles. Narrower paddles find this optimum at high speeds than do short, wide paddles. For a given amount of energy output, most people are more efficient in over long distences at generating modest paddling effort at high rates than in generating high effort at low paddling rates. This is why high aspect ratio paddles are often more efficient for extended paddling. -- mike ------------------------- Michael Edelman mje_at_spamcop.net http://www.foldingkayaks.org http://www.findascope.com *************************************************************************** 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 Sat May 12 2001 - 08:08:23 PDT
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