[Paddlewise] poles 'n' paddles

From: Michael Edelman <mje_at_spamcop.net>
Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 08:49:57 -0400
Alex says:

>Why can't you paddle with a pole the way you do with a paddle? If 
>you give me a pole that is as long as my paddle (from hand to hand >to centre of  effort) and a fixed point to place it in/on/against
>then there will be virtually no difference between it and paddling
>in water except for a little slippage. Biomechanically the
>distance between pushing hand, pulling hand and fixed point
>(centre of effort) are the governing factors.

I'd say "a lot of slippage". And that's the central issue, I think.  The
amount of effort needed to work the lever against a fixed anchor is MUCH
higher than that encountered in paddling. It's a situation often
encountered in paddling off a beach or other shallow, where the water is
too shallow to paddle; the instinct is to use your paddle like a pole,
rather than like a lever. 

-- mike 
---------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Edelman   mje_at_spamcop.net
http://www.foldingkayaks.org (nomadics)
http://www.findascope.com (choosing a telescope)

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Received on Wed May 16 2001 - 07:53:34 PDT

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