[Paddlewise] Seaworthy-long paddles

It often happens that folks that use wee short paddles express 
unwarrented expertise regarding the undesireability of using long 
paddles. Take that leverage thing. It has been published that folks 
using long sticks must push-pull harder due to the greater 
resistance/leverage required to move the blade through the water.

This would be true ONLY in the special circumstance that the 
paddler attempts to maintain the same PAINFULLY HIGH stroke 
rate that WEE SHORT paddles REQUIRE in order for such 
paddlers to have any hope of staying with long paddle folks.

I agree that the boat used makes a crucial difference in what 
paddle can be used effectively. The Dagger Vesper and Dagger 
Seeker are two boats that are difficult to use with long paddles as 
they have no keels for effective tracking. They require rudders.

I guess my boat, Mariner Sprite, must be one of those wide-deep 
boats. It is 22 inches wide and a little over 16 ft long. I can paddle 
five miles in an hour at about 45 strokes/minute.

A month or so ago, I found myself in short race with two other 
paddlers. I'm 66 and not in the condition I was in 20 yrs ago (but 
Next Year I plan to get serious about training; I say that every 
November to avoid unnecessary disappointment with the year past).

I looked over the racers. One was in a Free Style canoe. I assigned 
him third place. The other paddler was a young, 35ish, athlete 
paddling a new, sleek (Chesapeak Lightcraft?) kayak. He had one 
of those WEE SHORT paddles. I assigned him first place. 

The course was about 250 yards out to a buoy, round the mark and 
return to the starting line. Horn sounds and we are off. A few 
strokes leave the canoe behind. I was able to stay within a boat 
length of the hot boat on the way out to the mark. He made a wide 
turn. I was able to pass inside by doing a leaning turn and keeping 
good momentum. Long paddle-good for leaning turns. I didn't see 
the hot boat after that. I am told that the gap between us increased 
steadily all the way to the finish line. I conclude that those WE 
SHORT paddles must only be good for really long races.

As for long paddles only being good for pond paddling, I'm sure the 
East Arctic paddlers were never out in rough sea conditions. I've 
only been out in winds up to about 25 mph and 3-4 ft seas, so I 
really can't comment on rough water performance of my paddle.
There was one experience with a helicopter down draft that was 
likely more than 40 mph that came out OK. The spray in that wind 
hurt when it hit, forcing us to keep our heads down.

As for distance paddling, I have no experience. The longest day trip 
was about 28 miles and longest camping (loaded boats) trip started 
with a 15-mile day and ended with an 8-mile day. This required us 
to stop at about the half-way mark and sit in the waves until the 
laggards caught up with us. They never see the humor in us 
allowing them to catch up and then our pushing on without giving 
them time to rest. 

Wish I had a wee-short paddle so I could go faster!

Chuck Sutherland 
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