Re: [Paddlewise] Seaworthy-long paddles

I'm not surprised I got a rise out of Chuck with my comments about long
paddles. I used to use a 96-inch Euro paddle myself without undue strain,
but I want to make it clear that I was referring to super-long paddles
like the 110-inch Baffin paddle referred to in the article under
discussion. Native paddles of that length were, I am sure, much heavier
than the fiberglass Wind Swift I used before I switched to Greenland
paddles. Some of them were actually used with the paddle loom resting on
the foredeck to relieve the paddler of the weight.

Nevertheless, the laws of physics say that the longer you make the
outboard lever arm relative to the span with which you grip the paddle,
the less leverage you will have. When the difference in paddle lengths is
relatively small, it may not be so evident -- or important -- as when the
paddle gets super-long.

Obviously, you can go too far in the opposite direction, too. Try paddling
a storm paddle with your hands fixed at shoulder width apart in the
center, as opposed to using the sliding stroke or gripping the paddle by
one blade, and see how you like it. The trick is to find the right balance
of length, width, weight, and blade shape for your particular kayak and
style of paddling.

The other factor I had in mind, apart from leverage, is momentum: It is
easier to change the direction of a shorter, lighter paddle than a longer,
heavier paddle -- say, when you need to make a quick brace. When I was
learning to roll, I often switched from my standard-length Greenland
paddle to my storm paddle because I found the latter much easier to set up
and move quickly under water. It also forced me to pay more attention to
body mechanics, but that's another matter.

My first "combat" brace was on my first trip with a Greenland paddle, in
the Broken Group. I was running before two- to three-foot waves when I
suddenly broached to the right and felt myself falling to the left.
Without thinking about it (it was like watching a movie), I moved my
Greenland paddle from the right side of the kayak, where I had just
finished a stroke, to the left and leaned on it, stopping the capsize. I
still have a vivid memory of seeing the entire blade submerged nearly
parallel to the surface. I like a paddle that's so responsive.

Chuck Holst
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