RE: [Paddlewise] paddle sizing and Technology guides design

Since both equal racers will be willing to expend all the energy at their
disposal to win, the one who through technique or equipment most efficiently
transfers that energy to the water in a manner that propels the kayak in the
desired direction with the least added drag will be the winner. why can't
the Greenland paddle do that as well as you claim it works at slower speeds.
I agree with James Tibensky, who said the most efficient paddle is the canoe
paddle for covering long distances. Verlen Kruger and Steve Landick will
back me up on this one too. Steve told me he found it far more efficient at
using the minimum effort to move his very kayak like craft (ultimately
28,000 miles--but less than 1/2 that when I paddled with them and asked the
question). While Steve carried a kayak paddle as a spare and to use in rough
water he made miles with his light bent shafted canoe paddle and the canoe
racers quick choppy little torso rotating stroke. I suspect much of the
efficiency gain was in not having to lift the opposite paddle blade up with
each stroke and the high stroke rate that maintains a more even speed since
the craft doesn't slow as much between strokes and therefore have to be
accelerated as much to get it back up to speed. I think Nick is right about
this when he says:
 "-Everything else being equal the paddle with the largest blade area will
be the most efficient.
  - Everything else being equal the lightest paddle will be the most
efficient.
  - Everything else being equal the fastest cadence will be the most
efficient."

I think this is especially true if you take the human out of the system and
run it mechanically to avoid human limitations. I would define "efficiency
as wastes the least energy".


Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Albert Wang [mailto:albertwang1_at_home.com]
> Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2001 1:55 AM
> To: Matt Broze; Paddlewise
> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] paddle sizing and Technology guides design
>
>
>
> Not an authority, but an ex-engineer...
>
> We haven't defined efficiency.
>
> In any case, more energy converted to forward momentum per unit energy
> expended translates to faster speeds.
>
> Faster speed does not necessarily mean higher efficiency.
>
> If I were a racer, I wouldn't care about how much energy I saved after the
> race. I want to finish 2% faster, even if I expend 20% more energy.
>
> If I were on a multiple all day open ocean crossings, I sure would care
> about about conserving 20% of my energy and could care less about going 2%
> faster.
>
> I believe Greenland paddles achieve this, primarily through the difference
> in Reynolds numbers of Air and water.
>
> live long and paddle,
>
> albert
>
>
>

***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************