Re: [Paddlewise] Paddle Characteristics

In a message dated 9/7/2004 1:39:57 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
jdwinters_at_eastlink.ca writes:


> If you entered a kayak boutique and saw a rack of paddles what physical 
> characteristics would you look for to distinguish a Greenland paddle from a 
> Euro paddle.

A long, slender blade shaped similar to a airplane prop or popsicle stick 
would tell me it was a greenland like paddle. A pole with a shovel mounted on 
each end would suggest modern European origins, though, I know indigenous folks 
from Oceania to the Congo used single shovels attached to a pole to propel 
their outriggers, canoes or dugouts. Recent European designs now sport longer 
blades called wings, though they look less like wings of airplanes than they do 
trenching shovels. Alas, these trenching devices, be they round or longer in 
form, weigh quite a bit less than the garden variety found at hardware stores.


> 
> For example, would you look for a specific range of length to width ratios 
> or a specific range of blade shapes, or a specific range of lengths? How the 
> 
> paddle behaves is another question for another time.

I would say that the range of blade shapes evolving from a shovel, spoon, 
trowel, etc.,   would be my indicator, not necessarily the lengths offered.

> 
> What I am looking for is, How do you recognize a Greenland or Euro paddle 
> when you see one?
> 

Quite honestly, as my sophistication increases on the subject of kay-ackin', 
I would say that the more writing on the blade tends to be from so called 
European designs; whereas, the popsicle stick designs have a whole lot less 
writin'.

Rob G
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