Re: [Paddlewise] Paddle flutter

Here are the results of a couple hours' experimentation with the Eddyline
Mid Swift paddle and its flutter, taking into account some suggestions made
here.

* Varied the power of the stroke from very light to aggressive: little
difference. Actually, with a strong stroke sometimes the flutter diminished,
but this was probably because of the strong grip I tended to exert. I
controlled for this variable by maintaining a looser grip, and the flutter
remained fairly constant.

* Angled the top of the paddle blade back a degree or two, remembering Nick
Shade's description of the angle providing lift, but fogetting he said to
tilt the top back (a forward tilt would seem to me to be pulling the boat
down rather than providing lift ??). Anyway, the forward tilt certainly
seemed inefficient and contrary to the way the blade wanted to pull, as Mike
McNally mentioned. (Mike, which way did you twist the blade to control
flutter?)

* Inserted the paddle as vertically as possible while moving at very slow
speed and allowed time for any trapped air to surface, then stroked: no
change in flutter.

I doubt it would be considered a manufacturing defect, because the effect is
entirely symmetrical, and right and left blades for this paddle have got to
be separate molds.

Joe Pylka mentioned flutter is greater when the shaft extends well into the
length of the blade. This is the case with the Swift; the shaft protrudes
from the back of the blade by a thickness of about 2.5 cm+ at the near end
of the blade down to 1 cm, ending only about an inch from the far edge of
the blade. I don't know how much this varies among paddles.

I wonder if I'm facing a traceoff between flutter and a heavier paddle. I
don't know if this is a performance drag, but it might be worth a few oz. of
extra weight over the approx. 29 oz of the Swift to eliminate this
distraction. I'm minded to return the paddle, if PacWave (www.pacwave.net)
will allow it, and try something else. Experimenting with equipment is part
of the pleasure, especially when I get such in-depth commentary from my
experienced colleagues here.




***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************