dbarends_at_xs4all.nl (Dirk Barends) wrote: >>>>>>>>Matt Broze wrote (a lot): [...] This is also why the paddler in the stern of a canoe is the one that can control it the easiest. [...] If you try to move the bow of a canoe as a stern paddler you will find out that this gives the wrong description about how tandem canoeing really works.<<<<<<<<< I can't quite figure out how you got to here from what I said. The paddler in either end of the canoe mostly only moves the end they are in. In general, when the canoe is moving forward the stern paddler can move the stern end more than the bow paddler can move the bow end because of the relative water pressures on each end. Since either paddler turns the canoe when they move their end to the side, the stern paddler can turn it more. The situation would be reversed if backing up. [Note: There are other factors here as well. One is that since the leg room required means the stern paddler usually sits closer to the stern (than the bow paddler sits towards the bow) this gives the stern paddler a leverage advantage even when not moving forward. The relative weights of the paddlers will affect the trim of the kayak and the rocker could be asymmetrical as well and affect the system along with the direction of motion. >>>>>>>>But it can also apply to solo work: if I want to make a really sharp turn with my boat, I will have to make bow strokes, because stern strokes won't do it as well. Although I can imagine that if your bow is a whole lot more directional stable then your stern, it could be to difficult to move the bow? I personally don't like that kind of designs for touring.<<<<<<<< I suspect you have your solo canoe trimmed stern heavy (which will make it track better and loosen the bow making it easier to move the bow around than the stern). Move yourself well forward in the canoe and you will probably find the stern gets so maneuverable as to be hard to control. Another possibility is that you are shifting your weight well forward already when you reach way forward for those "bow strokes" so it may not be the strokes position so much as your weight shift that is helping you turn better with those "bow strokes". Some folks were trying to separate the physics from the biomechanics earlier to simplify the issues but I think biomechanics are important here as well. There are certain body positions where a person can put the most power on during the paddle stroke. This varies a little from person to person. The bent shaft on canoe paddles (and wing racing kayak paddles) is there so the blade is most vertical at the position where the particular racer is the strongest. Elite racers have been tested individually and the bend adjusted to suit them. I for one can pull the blade in a lot harder when it is doing a stern draw than when I am trying to push the paddle outward near the bow to push the bow over. The only way I seem to be able to get a lot of drawing power out towards the bow is to use the cross-bow draw stroke. This is another stroke (like the skimming low-brace return) I think is underutilized by sea kayak paddlers. A detailed description of it is in the "Paddling" manual on our website. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.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 Wed Jun 20 2001 - 03:30:43 PDT
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:43 PDT