On Sep 4, 2004, at 9:39 AM, Steve Brown wrote: > Nevertheless, I do not agree with your assessment that once buried, the > Greenland has the bite of a Euro. Paddles operate similarly to wings. > High > aspect ratio wings have high lift-to-drag ratios, which is why they > are seen > on high performance aircraft. Low aspect ratio wings have more lift in > when > stalled so the transition from flying to stalled is less abrupt. This > is why > they are seen on trainer aircraft and aircraft that must operate off > short > fields. I frequently here people talk about paddles working like wings and am prepared to accept that it is possible. Yet whenever I ask people to describe how the paddle is working like a wing, their explanations fall flat. People like to talk about how Greenland paddles are similar to glider wings etc. But, they never seem to be able to explain how the motion of a forward-stroking Greenland paddle is similar to that of a glider wing through the air. There is a very specific way a wing generates lift. If it does not move this way, it is not producing propulsion with lift. If you want forward propulsive thrust the paddle must move perpendicular to the direction of desired thrust and perpendicular to the axis of the "wing". So a paddle held more-or-less vertically must move more-or-less sideways, either away from or towards the boat. If it is not doesn't do this, it doesn't produce propulsion with lift and comparing it to a wing doesn't make sense. The clearest descriptions I have read for the Greenland stroke do not indicate they move through the water in a manner that would produce lift. I have tried hard to make sure I am understanding the descriptions and I've asked detailed questions. The more I asked the less convinced I was that Greenland paddles use lift to produce propulsion in a forward stroke. Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 824 Thompson St Glastonbury, CT 06033 USA Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847 http://www.guillemot-kayaks.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 Mon Sep 06 2004 - 11:09:07 PDT
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