> My original paddle was about 245 cm with 45* feather and 6.5" x
> 18" asym. solid glass blades. The blades are curved lengthwise, but
> flat across the width.

> The new one is 235 cm with a 60* feather, and 5.5" x 21"
> asymmetrical foam-cored blades. These blades are curved a bit less
> lengthwise, and curved (reverse-spoon?) across the width.

> I tried the new paddle Friday and yesterday afternoon. It had a bit of an
> epoxy problem. I think my resin pump is leaking (sounds like the same
> problem Gerard Dolmans had on his boat). A pump on it doesn't dispense as
> much as a pump on the hardener handle. Anyhow, after a month, the paddle
> still has soft spots, and when they got wet, they got this spongy, pasty
> white. Oh well, it's not like it was a valuable boat or anything. I'll try
> to salvage it, but if it doesn't work, I still have the
> "feather" paddles (Nick's design) to make.

> I don't know if I liked the longer, narrower (5.5"x21") blades
> or not. I took both paddles and switched when I was paddling yesterday.
> The wider one definitely feels faster, but it doesn't necessarily make me
> more tired. I didn't really feel like I was increasing my cadence with the
> narrower paddles. I also didn't feel like I was paddling my boat as fast
> with the narrower paddles. I was using my bow-wave as an indicator. It
> felt like I could push up against the bow-wave (at max. hull speed) and
> reach that speed easier with the wider-bladed paddles.

> The "feather" wooden-bladed paddles I build using Nick's design
> will probably be the wider, shorter size (6.5x18") like my original
> blades.

> Shawn

> I'll post the pictures of the paddle in construction as soon as I get the
> film developed.