Message-Id: <199807241116.HAA14513@mail.gwi.net>
From: "Ron Franklin" <oldhaven@mail.biddeford.com>
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 07:16:26 -0500
Subject: Re: [baidarka] Paddle efficiency
On 23 Jul 98 at 19:03, Stefano Moretti wrote:
> The slender arctic paddle at this point just digs in the water acting as
> a "differential". This is my paddling choice now, very efficient for
> average high speeds over a long time (4 knots in flat water is my
> cruising pace in a 16 ft kayak).
>
>
> > Very interesting. I was looking at a Micmac paddle design from Shaw & Tenny
> > and it had the same pointed leaf shape, but long and slender.
>
> Can you expand on this ?
>
>
> > references on the variety of aboriginal paddle design?
>
> Aboriginal from where ??
>
> Sorry, no references, but the paddles I've seen were in Guinea Bissau
> and Casamance, Senegal, and similar in lake Kivu, Zaire, propelling
> dugouts or large planked canoes.
>
>
In the much sought Zimmerly Qajaq, see page 29, which includes offsets. I
have built both single and doubles using this shape and am very pleased
with the result. Paddles are quiet, very light at tip end, can scull with
the single at 2 knots quietly, and the flexibility makes it easy on the
arms . They are great at all sorts of strange strokes for manouvering the
boat like draws and pulls, and don't have to leave the water on the
return. I also like them for canoeing. Headed North in Maine this week to
use them a lot. For ease of use and comfort in the boats they were used
with originally I would never go back to a wide blade. I even prefer them
to greenland narrow type. I built non fancy paddles of common wood with
hand tools in a day so it is easy to try something interesting and throw it
away if you don't like it. If you do, spend some more time on the next
one.
Ron Franklin
Bowdoin, Maine, USA