Date: Thu, 16 Mar 1995 08:46:13 -0800 (PST)
From: George Dyson <gdyson@janice.cc.wwu.edu>
To: baidarka@imagelan.com
Subject: Re: Traditional Paddles new thoughts
In-Reply-To: <950315194424_50714384@aol.com>
Message-Id: <Pine.ULT.3.91.950316084108.11867B-100000@janice.cc.wwu.edu>
Usefulness of a paddle (or sail, or airplane wing, or
parachute) is as much (or more) a function of shape than of area.
All the interesting stuff happens along the edge. Traditional paddles
have a lot of edge. And Aleut paddles had very interesting edges.
And, yes, more than half of Alaskan kayaks were paddled with
single-bladed paddles.
George B. Dyson Fairhaven College / MS 9118
gdyson@henson.cc.wwu.edu Western Washington University
(360) 734-9226 Bellingham, WA 98225-9118