It's exciting to see all the debate on quantifying paddle efficiency. My question is the following, which I think could be tank tested. An edge slices through the water resulting in minimal thrust forward (opposite direction of the edge stroke). As an edge becomes increasingly blunt, it may reach a point of being round. Same on the trailing edge. More thrust will be generated with the round pole than with the "edge stroke". As the blade continues to transform from a plane parallel to the stroke to a plane perpendicular to a stroke, the thrust generated continues to increase. When the transformation is complete, so that a flat blade is pulled through the water, at least a long flat blade will oscilate, which makes a smooth stroke difficult. I assume that at that point efficiency is reduced. Question is this. How much curve is required on the power face and what shape is required on the back face to create the "most efficient blade"? Contribution of flex in the blade? Contribution of a narrow ridge down the length of the blade? Can the back be flat and still be "most efficient"? Thanks, Chuck Sutherland *************************************************************************** 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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