Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 20:19:26 -0400
From: Chris & Ellen Kohut <chriskayak@earthlink.net>
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
Subject: Re: baidarka Aleut versus greenland style paddle
The one that I have (made by Bruce Lemon, and supposedly an Aleut
design, although admittedly them pesky Aleuts are hard to inquire of
lately, or ain't talkin') does have a pronounced ridge down one face and
is diamond in general shape, the opposite face of the same blade is
indeed, flatter than a fritter. The loom is markedly gull-winged, and
the ridge down the power face does provide a bit of stiffness, the
interesting thing about the blade is that it is self-correcting. In
other words, there is but one way that the blade will attack the water
on a forward stroke. That prominent ridge and bow in the loom sees to
that, and the paddle will roll in your hands until it reaches it's
correct power face. It's long too. 8 feet (244 cm). Hope this helps