Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 11:19:13 +0200
From: Stefano Moretti <S.Moretti@agora.stm.it>
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
Subject: Re: [baidarka] Paddles
Gene Smith wrote:
>
> Anybody know of any hydrodynamic studies of paddles - both single and
> double? Some recent paddling has convinced me that there is a point where
> paddling harder adds a great deal more to energy expended than it does to
> thrust. I'm curious to know if any studies have been done to try and
> pinpoint the area of maximum paddling efficiency.
What you describe has much more to do with increase of friction and wave
resistance. Take any issue of sea kayaker and read the numbers in kayak
essays, and you will see that resistance increases geometrically with
speed.
I'd also like to know
> more about the paddle designs of indigenous peoples - they seem often to be
> very different than the shapes I am used to seeing in modern use. Any
> clues?
paddles in many cultures were not seen as mere propulsion, but also had
to serve different needs (silence of operation when hunting or
approaching the enemy for example). In the western coast of Africa I've
seen many paddles shaped like pointed hart shaped leaves. Very pointed,
and the extremities were often let dragging in the water to avoid noise
from dripping water. Pointed enough to be quite offensive tool.
This is all I know... Stefano
> Gene Smith