From: Guillemot@aol.com
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 1995 18:08:46 -0500
Message-Id: <950323180845_59069506@aol.com>
To: baidarka@imagelan.com
Subject: Re: Paddling...
MRPK81A@prodigy.com (MR TOM L CLARKE):
>
> Nick, are you saying that since the paddle will have some
> slippage, let's make use of that slippage by converting as
> much of it as possible to a lift component... and that the
> sum of the new drag and lift components will be greater than
> the original drag component...
No, I am suggesting that by adding some lift with a sideways component in the
paddle stroke you may be able to slow down the overall application of force
and thus add less kinetic energy to the water. I am not yet convinced this
would work in practice, but...
> Second, can someone please describe a 'wing' paddle and the
> recommeded stroke... I've never seen one... or if I have, I
> didn't know what I was looking at....
I have only tried a wing paddle once. I paddled out 100 yrds and then back.
This is not a fair basis for comment, but I'll add some rumors I've heard.
Wing paddles are used primarily by racers. The blades are basically eliptical
shaped with a radical spooning. One edge actually curves back over itself (I
forget if it is the top or bottom edge). The blade does not come staight out
from the shaft, but is angled slightly. As a form of worship of all things
carbon, they are usually black.
A cross section of the blade looks something like:
___
/ \
| \
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/
/
/
/
This picture may be upside down.
When I tried one of these paddle... well, the most complementary word I can
use is "Lively". It wanted to go where it wanted to go and that didn't
neccessarily agree with my thoughts on the situation. When I pulled on it, it
really wanted to go flipping about. However, for all that, it didn't feel
like it was slipping backwards much.
The pictures I've seen of them being used in races show the upper hand of the
paddler out past the center line so that the shaft is nearly vertical. Other
than that I've heard you need to relearn how to paddle.
I have heard that the blade actually ends up ahead of where it is placed in
the water. One explanation said this kept it out of the disturbed water
behind it. The forward motion of the paddle would indicate that lift is the
primary propulsive force. Keeping out of disturbed water would be an
advantage.
If anybody knows more about these paddles pleas correct my errors.
Nick Schade