Re: [Paddlewise] paddle analysis expectations

It has been said that one of the advantages of the wing paddle is that 
it forces you to use a technique which is intrinsically efficient. By 
"forces" they don't mean that if you do it wrong you die or something, 
they mean that when you pull on the paddle it automatically moves out 
to the side. This lateral motion is said to be on of the keys to the 
efficiency of the paddle. The implication of this is, that if you don't 
have a wing paddle, but you use whatever you have with a similar motion 
to a good "wing stroke" you will get much of the same advantage.

The difference between a conventional modern paddle and a wing paddle 
is said to be statistically significant (74% efficiency for a 
conventional and 89% efficiency for the wing) There is some debate as 
to the explanation for this difference. It may be due to a more 
efficient shape with the wing paddle, but it may also be due to 
technique difference.

The trick would be to develop tests that can isolate the effect of 
technique.

On Friday, June 20, 2003, at 08:07  PM, skimmer_at_mail3.enter.net wrote:

> I have had the impression that students of paddle design are
> convinced, based on testimonials and math equations, that one sort of
> paddle will allow or encourage a more efficient stroke than can be
> accomplished using a longer or different paddle.
>
> In order to test the question, one must have expectations about the
> outcome of the tests. For me, the only issue of interest concerns
> whether or not one paddle or another allows the engine driving the
> boat at some constant speed for some fixed distance to do so with
> greater efficiency.  That means doing less work with one paddle than
> with another to achieve that constant speed over the fixed distance.
>
> Do you believe that such a difference, if it exists, will be
> detectable? What % change in work is anticipated? Do you think this
> change will be statistically detectable (significant at the 95% level)?
>
> Would you accept the possibility that there is no difference in the
> work required to push the boat as described above, but that under
> certain circumstances, sets of muscle better suited for sustained
> paddling are brought into play with certain paddles, which causes the
> perception that "less work" is being required to drive the boat?
>
> I would appreciate a clearer discussion about the nature of the
> questions being proposed for testing.
>
> Thanks,
> Chuck Sutherland
Nick Schade

Guillemot Kayaks
824 Thompson St
Glastonbury, CT 06033
USA
Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/

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