This message apparently didn't get trough the first time or was intercepted or delayed due to a v warning also included so I'll try sending it with the warning edited out. I usually explain paddle flutter as the "falling leaf effect" rather than "alternate vortex shedding". Most have folks have seen how a falling leaf reacts to a force (gravity) in a fluid (air). One thing no one mentioned was that in general the narrower the paddle blade the higher the flutter rate. I find a high rate of flutter unacceptable because I never know where the paddle blade is going to be if it is fluttering too fast. Some blades certainly flutter less than others and some paddles are harder to control (the flutter) because of things like round (non-ovalled) grips, too narrow a shaft, and/or too much distance to the blade from your hand. I find that using a "wing paddle" type paddle stroke (sliding the blade out to the side as the stroke progresses) virtually eliminates paddle flutter even on hard accelerating strokes. Yes, one can control it by gripping the paddle tighter and working against its direction (if it is slow enough) but why waste the effort. I'd rather hold the paddle looser and not fight the flutter if it is relatively slow. Maybe there is even a "lift" effect gained by flutter. Paddle Peter Chopelas might be able to enlighten us about this. 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 Tue Dec 04 2001 - 04:47:21 PST
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:46 PDT