Re: [Paddlewise] Paddle Bouyancy

First, let me say that I am not an expert in this area.  That said, the
filling of a low-aspect paddle would increase stiffness and therefore reduce
the need for the amount of shell material.  That should reduce the total
density.  In the case of the shaft, it prevents water from filling the
cavity.  I hadn't thought about the volume of the wooden paddle.

In any case, we are talking about a small amount of bouyant force it seems
to me.  Maybe since it is at the end of a relatively long shaft, the force
doesn't need to be large.
--Mel--
=^..^=
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Albert Wang" <albertwang1_at_home.com>
To: "Mel Lammers" <mslammers_at_earthlink.net>; <Paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2001 7:52 PM
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Paddle Bouyancy


> Maybe I don't understand...
>
> How does filling a paddle with foam or having the paddle be made out of
wood
> make it more bouyant?
>
> Foam can decrease the need for higher density structural materials. But
just
> filling air with foam or wood makes it less bouyant not more.
>
> Greenlanders typically have a higher volume, hence more buoyancy. If you
> made one out of carbon and left it hollow, it would be more bouyant than
the
> same paddle in wood.
>
> live long and paddle,
>
> albert
>
>
>
> > 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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