Re: [Paddlewise] Paddle flutter

From: "Nick Schade" <schade_at_guillemot-kayaks.com>

> At 12:56 PM -0500 11/30/01, Michael Daly wrote:
> >Snip>
> >Tilting the blade enough will eliminate the symmetry and reduce the problem,
> >as some have suggested.  This, however, sounds like the wrong approach
> >IMHO.  Good paddles don't have objectionable flutter even if drawn straight
> >through the water.
> 
> There is a good explanation of the benefit of angling the blade 
> slightly at: http://courses.washington.edu/phys208/notes/lect19.html
> 

That's a good article.  I had to check the author, as his insistence on the
unsuitability of conventional Bernoulli explanations matched those of a 
physics prof I used to know.

I'm not saying that there are no benefits to generating lift.  I'm saying that the
paddle John bought shouldn't exhibit high flutter under any conditions.  When
I play with paddles so as to force flutter, none of the decent paddles I've used
generates excessive flutter.  Since moderate flutter is the current state of the
art for kayaking paddles, the Eddyline should be similar*.  I don't know why the
Eddyline isn't similar, but it should be Eddyline's problem, not John's.  I've only
once used a Carlisle, which he also used without problem, but it's a dog in my
opinion and is suitable only for a spare (assuming, of course, it's the same flat 
design with no distinction between power and non-power faces).  If he's not 
having a problem with that one, I'd expect the Eddyline to be better, not worse.  
Why it isn't, I don't know - but I'm not prepared to advocate changing technique 
until it can be demonstrated that the problem is in John and not the paddle.  
Hence, he should try several paddles and see what prevails.

With regard to the Eddyline paddle - does it have a smaller diameter shaft than
most paddles?  Is it particularly flexible?  And John, how far apart are your hands
when you hold the paddle?

Mike

*I'll change my tune for paddles designed specifically for recreational paddlers
using high lift which have poor flutter characteristics when used in "drag mode".  
I'm not aware of such paddles at this time.

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