Re: [Paddlewise] GP Sufficient power?

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Nick,

In my experience, the initial "start" often times causes the paddle to
cavitate if you try too hard. You have to apply more power to overcome
inertia than you do to keep the boat in motion once it is moving (Once
again, inertia). A GP works more like a power boat propeller than a euro
does, which is why canting the top edge of the blade forward increases
your power. Finding the right "pitch" for the task at hand comes with
practice and experimentation.

I use an almost vertical stroke with little to no cant to get moving or to
generate a quick burst while moving, and then adjust the paddle and blade
angles as needed. The trick is to not pull so hard that you cause the
paddle to cavitate. It's the same principle as a euro in that case -- a
clean "catch" and a constant acceleration along the length of the stroke
will generate the most force. It's just easier to make a GP cavitiate,
which causes wasted effort when it happens. Good technique cures that.

It's actually intuitive once you learn it. You find yourself making lots
of adjustments without even thinking in a short time --- and every paddle
is slightly different (I have about 8 of them, and it takes a minute or so
to adjust from one to the other).

There are some euros that this works with in a limited fashion as well,
mostly non-dihedral blades, like a Lightning.

 Wayne

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Wayne Smith
wsmith16_at_snet.net

Check out my sea kayaking & homebrewing page:
http://pages.cthome.net/wsmith16/home.html

----- Original Message -----
From: "Nick Schade" <schade_at_guillemot-kayaks.com>
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] GP Sufficient power?


> At 9:40 AM -0700 9/16/02, Shawn Baker wrote:
> >The only place the GP is
> >slower is in that first acceleration stroke or two when you're really
> >trying to horse the boat.
>
> It is generally agreed that GPs don't have the ability to accelerate
> of a euro, but almost no GP users seem to think there is any
> difference once you are up to speed. What is it about GPs that when
> the force is applied to get the boat moving there is a noticeable
> difference, but when the force is applied to keep the boat moving
> there appears to be no difference? What changes between the time you
> first start and the time you are up to speed? Something must change
> to account for the difference in relative response to applied effort.
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