The ridge in the center of traditional paddles that you mentioned would have the exact same effect of what I proposed. Moving it from the center to nearer the upper edge on the power face would simply enhance the effect. It would create the same effect as angling the blade even if the blade were near vertical on entry into the water. The reason I'm considering drag is because it is the force primarily responsible for the boat's forward movement. Any lift developed by an angled blade would act perpendicularly to the blade's vector of movement through the water, or essentially towards the sea-floor, although I think it may help with the blade's catch. I'm not so much concerned with lost thrust, just found the idea intriguing.

Thank you for your responses and input. It's certainly helped me understand Greenland paddling better.

Nick

: Hello Nick,

: I find that with a properly made and sized Greenland paddle that the correct
: paddle angle is very easy to maintain. I think many paddlers have problems
: when they use commercial designs that place all fingers on the shaft. This
: encourages a vertical blade at the catch rather than a slight forward
: tilt. Some of these blades do take some effort to maintain the angle.

: I am a dyed-in-the-wool minimalist and would not care to add hardware to such
: a simple, elegant paddle to make up for a problem that could be easily
: solved by more attention to proper paddle fit and shape. Also consider
: that your hands slide and grasp the blades of a Greenland paddle for
: rolling and bracing so any hardware that you add would have to accomodate
: this. For a simpler solution, consider that some traditional blades have a
: ridge running down the center of the blade to assist in reducing flutter.

: Your post and a previous one in this thread makes the assumption that by
: angling the blade you must be losing thrust. From this I assume that you
: are considering only drag. If angling the blade helps to enhance lift then
: it is quite possible that by angling the blade more thrust is created.
: George Gronseth has long said that the difference between a vertical blade
: and the angled blade is akin to a paddlewheel versus a propeller. Other
: folks have claimed that the lift created by a sail is a better anology. I
: don't have a degree in fluid-dynamics or engineering so I will simply
: experiment with the paddles on the water and leave the physics to others
: to debate.

: Greg Stamer