[Paddlewise] Polar Inuit Paddles

Chuck Sutherland Wrote: 

> The east arctic paddles are easily recognized
> because of their 
> length, considerable weight and relatively crude
> finishing. They look 
> a lot like a 2"x3" beam about 10 feet long that is
> somewhat 
> flattened in the blade area. The paddles seen in
> Nanook of the 
> North are of this sort. Many such paddles, as was
> true in the 
> Mystic exhibit, have a scarf several inches long in
> the middle of the 
> loom where the two halves of the paddle are
> reinforced with 3-4 
> iron(?) bolts.

Sounds like you have seen and studied very few East
Canadian Paddles-- your assessment is baffling, biased
and with great exception.  Besides, for every
un-scarfed Polar Greenland paddle you come across you
can assuredly give credit to Peary for bringing so
much lumber up North.
 
> By contrast, the Polar Arctic paddles are finely
> finished, have a 
> knot and notch outside the hand grips that serve as
> absolutely 
> effective drip rings, and have thin, finely finished
> blades that are 
> MOST OFTEN symmetric on both sides, but just
> slightly curved 
> surfaces. 

Well, next time you're at the Smithsonian, check out
NMAI 186540 and NMNH 160388.  Its good to see a number
of them before making such sweeping statements. 

I'm not denigrating Polar Greenland paddles-- I have,
use, and enjoy one (with a replica of a Polar
Greenland kayak)
http://www.traditionalkayaks.com/Kayakreplicas/KNK1007.html
Bear in mind any gripe you have with me is possibly
with the only other guy in the world who uses such a
paddle and craft.  I don't care to discuss this
further. 
All the best, 
Harvey 
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************