[Paddlewise] Lift

Nick wrote;
>>
> 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.

I agree that the explanations lack clarity. However, almost any paddle 
operating at an angle of attack will develop some lift. Bruce Winterbon 
showed in his tests how a canoe paddle could generate lift upon insertion. 
Whether GP paddles develop as much as some people claim..........

In Jackson's study of wing paddles he clearly showed how they develop lift 
as they slice outwards from the boat i.e. they do not move directly aft. I 
replicated (rather crudely) his tank apparatus and it seemed to me that the 
downward slicing movement of the Inuit stroke that I have heard described 
would develop lift. Mind you, I may have misunderstood the description but I 
have used both the outwardly slicing motion and a downward slicing motion. 
In both cases it "appears" that they could develop lift since the blade does 
seem to move at right angles to the direction of boat travel. I say 
"appears" because the bade also seems to move aft a considerable amount so 
maybe the paddle is in a stalled condition rather than a high lift 
condition.

I did not feel my tank tests provided reliable information and hope to do 
something better once I get established here. Don't know if anyone else has 
tried tank testing of paddles with this in mind.

Cheers

John Winters
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