[Paddlewise] Paddle Bouyancy

From: Mel Lammers <mslammers_at_earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 23 May 2001 18:54:34 -0400
I would question the amount of buoyant force from a high-aspect (I hope this
is the Greenland version which is what I am talking about) paddle.  While I
am sure that if wood, it would be more buoyant than a unfilled carbon fiber
or fiberglass, I would think the force would be small.  Wood, after all, is
normally of a density in the range of .35 - .6  which might be met or exceed
by foam filling in the shaft and possibly in the blade.  In any case, the
force would be small since the volume in the water is small in either case.
At least it seems that way to me. Does anyone have any data in terms of
force for specific paddles instead of theoretical assumptions?

As I get older, I desire any change which makes my paddling more efficient
in terms of HP in --HP out with the 2 numbers being closer in value. So my
questions are:

If I change from my carbon fiber Werner Camano (230 CM) to a 230 CM
Greenland wooden paddle, would I feel less tired at the end of an hour, 2
hours, 3 hours, etc.?
What additional specifications should I seek?
Can I get a 4 piece version for transportability on airplanes?
Does anyone have data to support answers to the above, other than anecdotal?
(not that this is bad, just the engineer in me coming to the fore)


--Mel--
=^..^=
http://home.earthlink.net/~mslammers
mslammers_at_earthlink.net
mellammers_at_mellammers.net
bagboater_at_yahoogroups.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bagboater
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DFWseayakers
http://www.mellammers.net
http://www.geocities.com/mslammers

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Received on Wed May 23 2001 - 15:55:24 PDT

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