John Winters asks: > Why does a narrow (I think he means high aspect > ratio. Correct me if I assume incorrectly, Michael) paddle work better? What > characteristics does a high aspect ratio paddle possess that makes it feel > better than a low aspect ratio paddle? Can we not duplicate those > characteristics with a low aspect ratio blade? > Good question, and one I've been thinking about. There's the wind advantage, of course; high-aspect ratio blades aren't as efficient at catching wind as are wider blades at low air speeds. As for performance in the water, I'm still a newcomer to this style of paddle, but my experience suggests a few possible hypotheses: 1. I think the high aspect ratio paddles are amenable to a wider range of paddling styles. It's *much* easier to vary the amount of blade in the water, which lets you sort of gearshift that way. I usually use a wide, low stroke in which the entire blade is not submerged. I can change to a very vertical stroke when I need a burst of acceleration. 2. Greater flotation. The classic Greenland style paddle is more buoyant than its European kin. Better for bracing and rolling. 3. Control of the angle of attack. The Greenland paddle makes it very simple to feel the angle of the blade. I have occasionally found myself thrown off balance pulling a European style blade through or out of the water and getting an unexpected level of resistance. 4. Similarly: The angle of attack is less critical in maneuvers like a sculling brace. Tip a Euro-style paddle blade a bit and it dives under the surface. With the Greenland style blade you can feel where it's supposed to be. Err a bit, and you can recover without dragging yourself into an unintentional roll. -- 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 19 2001 - 11:16:19 PDT
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