From: Guillemot@aol.com
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 1995 20:38:52 -0500
Message-Id: <950319203752_54525902@aol.com>
To: baidarka@imagelan.com
Subject: Re: Paddling...
A paddle is typically working like a parachute. A parachute will always pull
up with an equal and opposite force to that pulling down on it. Its lift is
parallel to the direction of motion. When used only like a parachute a paddle
wastes no energy.
A wing generates lift perpendicular to it's direction of motion and
perpendicular to it's length. For a paddle to work like a wing it must move
up-and-down and/or in-and-out. Unfortunately when you do that the drag of the
paddle is not parallel to the direction of the kayak and is therefore wasted
energy.
So why would you want to use a paddle like a wing? I guess because its
impossible to make the paddle go only straight back like a parachute. Since
you need to slice into the water anyhow you might as well gain some advantage
from it. An efficient wing-like paddle will transform much of the paddle
motion that is at a right angle to the kayak's path into additional
propulsion.