Message-Id: <v01510101ad2ca503409d@[199.170.68.48]>
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 23:43:25 -0500
To: baidarka@imagelan.com
From: shaysnet.com!laughing_loon@imagelan.com (Rob Macks)
Subject: Re: Aluet paddles
>On Tue, Jan 23, 1996 2:22:43 PM at Rob Macks wrote:
>
>.
>>
>> I learned to white water kayak with the wide blade feathered sport
>paddle.
>>I was fortunate to hear John Heath speak about native paddles. He inspired
>
>>me to give them a try. I could go on and on about the Aleut paddle. I love
>
>>it. There are so many paddling options with this paddle. I feel hobbled
>>without the aid of accurate drawings to discribe what one can do with this
>
>>paddle.
>>
>>
>>Rob Macks
>>Laughing Loon Canoes & Kayaks
>
>
>
>Rob
>
>Did you adjust the deminsions of the paddle in Zimerly's book? I t seems
>that the Aleuts used a narrower grip (distance between the hands) than
>modern paddlers. Do solid wood paddles hold up or is laminated better?
>
>paul
Paul,
I did not change the grip distance. The overall paddle is about 8' long.
The grip is 2'. This narrower grip is important. My understanding, from
John Heath's lecture is that the native paddles, both Aleut and Inuit, are
designed as an endurance paddling tool.
The hand grip is shoulder wide. This is less powerful than the arms out,
elbows at 90=B0 wide grip of the sport kayak paddles. The wide blade
feathered sport paddles have their origins in racing. For touring you don't
need power. The closer hand grip of the native paddles makes a faster
paddling cadence natural. Once you are up to speed a quick short stroke,
with only a small amount of blade in the water, is just as fast if not
faster than the sport paddles.
Pulling and feathering a wide blade sport paddle all day may be just fine
for those afflicted with youthful testosterone poisoning. But, I don't have
that kind of energy to waste anymore, so I'll stick to my wonderfully
efficient Aleut paddle.
With the native paddles you have the option to stroke with the paddle also
vertical to use the whole blade and load the power onto the flexing blade
surface. So power is available with native paddles. I haven't figured it
out but I bet the Aleut blades have more surface area than most wide blade
sport paddles. My paddles blades are 36" long and 3-7/8" at the widest
point.
There is just such a variety of options available with this paddle because
of unlimited hand placement. The protruding shoulders on the Aleut blades
make it easy to set up the blade angle when rolling. It is so easy to slide
your hands down the blades underwater to do an extended paddle roll to
conserve energy.
When I started building paddles the where for white water. One piece wood
just wouldn't take the punishment. So I build all my paddles with
laminations. This way I don't have to find that one prefect piece of wood.
I describe in the plans I have for my Aleut paddles how the shaft is made
of a sandwich of northern white spruce between 1/4" thick pieces of
mahogany, ash or white oak. The finished shaft is 1-1/8" by 1-3/8". The
hardwood must be glued to the spruce surfaces parallel to the blades. This
way the hardwood will stiffen and strengthen the paddle like an I beam. I
glue spruce and hardwood strips to the spruce shaft in decorative
arrangement to make the blades.
I know talking to folks on the baidarka mailing list about Aleut paddles is
like preaching to the converted and I'll try to control myself. In the
years I've paddled, the "correct" paddle lengths have changed like
women's skirt lengths. I've been to canoe and kayak symposiums where I'd
listen to one expert talk about this paddle being the "best". Only to hear
the next expert say just the opposite.
There are many different ways to paddle. No one is the best way for all. I
must remind myself bottom line is to have FUN and realize my tools (kayaks
& paddles) are only crutches helping me to that end. It is nice to get new
tools and take care of tools but I must not get carried away with beating
my fellow over the head saying "how good my tools are!" So I say this
because native paddles aren't "better" than sport paddles only different in
a way that appeals and works for me.
In a Zen story a master explains to a monk that he and his teachings are
like a finger pointing at the moon. Do not stare at the finger when the
goal is elsewhere.
My we all revel in the many choices we have as paddlers. And may we see
past the different ways and tools we paddle with and share our joys, water
and wave!
Rob Macks
Laughing Loon Canoes & Kayaks