Subject: Re: [baidarka] Paddles
From: wolfgang brinck (nativewater@yahoo.com)
Date: Mon Mar 21 2005 - 14:11:45 EST
--- William Nettles <netttles@adelphia.net> wrote:
> But back to testing paddles. I think its better to make the attempt
> to
> experiment, measure and observe than to sit around and attempt to
> imagine the best possible experiment. This is the difference
> between
> Aristotle and Archimedes.
Well, most of us have no choice but to experiment, given our lack of
hydrodynamics expertise. There's an old country western joke about a
guitar player. He was said to have some ability to read music, but
not enough to hurt his playing. We might extend the joke to paddle
makers who have some acquaintance with hydrodynamics, but not enough
to hurt their paddle designs.
A few ad hoc experiments might not
> explain any mysteries but they would be the necessary first steps
> to
> finding out which is better. And preliminary experiments lead to
> better designed experiments.
>
My experience has been that in the process of making a lot of paddles
I occasionally made some good ones quite by accident. Also, not
being burdened with any preconceived notions of good paddle design, I
have also created some true monstrosities, that nevertheless had some
good attributes. But over the years, my paddles have gotten a little
better and I have a better feel for what makes for a good paddle. It
isn't just hydrodynamics, it's also ergonomics and paddle attributes
such as flexibility and weight that need to be taken into
consideration. And learning from the work of other paddle makers
such as Jim Mitchell and Lew Plummer helps a lot. Certainly, getting
to use paddles that other people have made is instructive and points
the way toward new experiments.
Wolfgang
http://www.wolfgangbrinck.com/boats
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