OK. I replaced the bent shaft with a new one. Needed some firewood anyway... This one is pretty flexible, especially when I grab it as though you would for a pawlata roll. I can deflect it at least a couple of inches over the 32" of loom but it doesnt show any signs of breaking. I didnt try putting my whole weight on it. The question is, how much flex in a greenland paddle is normal? How much force does it really take in a pawlata roll? A screw roll?