Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 09:10:22 -0700 (PDT)
Message-Id: <199807241610.JAA09510@ns.intelenet.net>
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
From: redcanoe@pangea.ca (Douglas Ingram)
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
>
>
Traditonal canoe paddle design seems to have settled upon a blade that
averages 6" wide at its widest, and about 30 " long throat to tip. Some
areas which have a lot of shallow water tend to have the widest area close
to the tip, as in a beavertail, so as to be effective in the widest variety
of conditions. Other paddles from regions with "universally" deep water, as
in any where in the Canadian sheild, have blades which have roughly parallel
edges. Some of these straght sided paddles taper towards the tip, the
widest point will be near the waters surface, where the water is "slippery",
and narrowest towards the tip, where the water is more solid. This allows
the surface area of the blade to be balanced to the relative "densities" of
the water. Most of the Micmac and Malecite paddles where of beavertail
shape, though some of the others, such as the Passamaquoddy example from
1849 described by Adney, where much more strectched out, a lot like an
Ottertail, and similar to the straight sidded paddles, except eith curved
sides. I have made several of these paddles, including the unique grip
which is made to be held sideways, they are wonderfull paddles.
In terms of the odd grip that you describe. Almost all of the traditional
N. American Native paddles where made for the user to hold the grip
sideways, almost like holding a kayak paddle. This allowed the users wrist
to bend in its natural direction in order to execute the correction strokes
for steering. Thus the grips where straight along the side, or round
allowing the user to hold it where preferred. If you take a look at my
site, you can see modern examples of these grips. The modern "T" type of
grip is a result of production, or racing, concerns, not touring paddling
concerns.
The S. AMerican paddles which I have seen have a funny grip shaped like a
"batman" symbol. It has these peaks at the side of the grip so that your
hand does not slip off.
Douglas Ingram
Red River Canoe & Paddle
P.O. Box 78, GRP 4, RR 2
Lorette, Manitoba
Canada
ROA OYO
(204)878-2524
URL: www.wilds.mb.ca/redriver
e-mail: redcanoe@pangea.ca