Re: [Paddlewise] Favorite Greenland-style paddles

On Sunday, September 15, 2002, at 12:52:34 PM PST, James Durkin wrote:

> Do PaddleWise subscribers have some favorites they would like to
> suggest (along, of course, with the reason for their preference)?
> Also, comments on either of my above "early interests" are welcome
> too?

Once I finish building my wooden Arcktic Hawk (Superior Kayaks/CLC
kit), I'll be trying my hand at carving my own Greenland Paddles.
Until then, I have three commercially made paddles that I use. One
Betsie Bay (Greenlander), and two from Malone of Maine (a full length
and a storm paddle). I really prefer the Malone of Maine paddles.

I all of them used, only knowing the overall length of the paddles, so
I feel fortunate that the Malone of Maine full length paddle loom was
well proportioned for me (and the storm paddle is as it should be as
well). The Betsie Bay, however, while having the same overall length
of the Malone of Maine, has a much longer loom (25" vs. the 18" loom
of the Malone), and consequently, shorter blades with a less gradual
transition from loom to almost full width of the blades (a little more
like a "spoon" shape). I find the Malone more comfortable for both
sliding and non-sliding strokes, as the transition from loom to full
blade width is straight and gradual.

When I'm not using a sliding stroke with the full length Malone of
Maine paddle, I can very comfortably hold it so that most of my
fingers are over the beginning of the blades, just beyond the subtly
shouldered loom/blade transition. With my hands at the same width on
the Betsie Bay, I'm holding only the loom, and can't even feel the
beginning of the blades. In order for my hands to "properly" feel the
transition from loom to blade with the Betsie Bay, my grip would feel
unnaturally wide for a standard non-sliding forward stroke.

The Betsie Bay is a very nice paddle, but I really do prefer the feel
and performance of the Malone of Maine paddles. Unfortunately, Malone
of Maine seems to be out of business (or if it's not, I'd really like
to know where they're hiding!). A commercially available paddle that I
think is very similar in design to the Malone of Maine is made by
Superior Kayaks:

http://www.superiorkayaks.com/superiorkayaks006.htm

-- 
Melissa
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