Ken Rasmussen kayakfit_at_fidalgo.net www.kayakfit.com subject: rolling and sculling brace with wooden paddles A couple of years ago I was at a pool practice and happened to try a friend's homemade wooden paddle to do some sculls and braces. I was amazed to discover what a huge advantage it was over a fiberglass paddle. I don't have a bit of difficulty using a fiberglass paddle to roll or scull, but the wooden one floated and developed lift, and tended to zip effortlessly to the surface. Since then I've been trying a variety of wooden paddles, and haven't come across any that are as remarkable as the one my friend made. There are plenty I haven't yet tried, but I'm curious as to whether any of you have come across either wooden or floating blade paddles that exhibit the climbing characteristic to a high degree. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On 30 Aug 2004 at 19:14, K. Rasmussen wrote: > A couple of years ago I was at a pool practice and happened to try a > friend's homemade wooden paddle to do some sculls and braces. I was > amazed to discover what a huge advantage it was over a fiberglass > paddle. I don't have a bit of difficulty using a fiberglass paddle to > roll or scull, but the wooden one floated and developed lift, and > tended to zip effortlessly to the surface. The relatively thicker edges of wooden paddle blades make them a little less prone to dive than thin composite paddle blades. However, I've never found a paddle of any type that is inherently likely to climb to the surface. Greenland-style paddles (GP) are good for sculling, since they tend to be self-orienting. You can get the paddle to scull without diving without forcing the blade to take a leading-edge-up configuration as you would with a standard composite blade. That's about as close to moving effortlessly to the surface as I can imagine. My own experiments with paddles I've made reveals a slightly better sculling behavior with rounded surface GPs than with flatter surfaced ones. That is the cross section of the blade is shaped more like a lentil than a sausage. Mike *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On 31 Aug 2004 at 1:26, Michael Daly wrote: > Greenland-style paddles (GP) are good for sculling, since they tend to > be self-orienting. You can get the paddle to scull without diving > without forcing the blade to take a leading-edge-up configuration as > you would with a standard composite blade. BTW, I should be clear here - this behavior is exhibited only when the blade is on the surface of the water, not when the blade is submerged. Mike *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Ken, I have always enjoyed paddling and rolling with Derek's Toksook. I have had them for several years now and on one paddle am actually on the third shaft. I paddle with Greenland paddles and Euroblades and yet I do keep coming back to the Toksook. I can do a number of "Greenland" roles with the Toksook that I cannot even think about with a Euroblade. There are some definite drawbacks. The older paddles that I have are very heavy. A friend recently bought one (past year and a half) and I would say it weighs half as much. Mind all of this weighing and measuring is with a beer in one hand and the paddle in the other so you will need to check it for yourself. Drawback two. Older shafts break! Twice! Thank you Terry. You cannot think long on these paddles. They have a huge surface area and I would go short to save shoulders. (length). You can roll with the blade on edge and balance brace! Still won't do everything you can do with a Greenland paddle though. Brgds, Jeffrey Bingham Dodging Francis. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> I'm curious as to whether any of you have come across > either wooden or floating blade paddles that exhibit the climbing > characteristic to a high degree. If you get a chance, try Werner's new Ikelos paddle. Foam core. It floats. Light, and Sweet in every respect (but pricey). Usual disclaimer: no connection with Werner. Bob V *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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