: I've been playing with greenland paddles and stumbled across this.... Unless
: he is 3 feet tall that is one long paddle. I imagine this acted like a
: tightrope walkers pole, he probably never had to roll his boat using this
: paddle

Photographs like these call into question the hypothesis that the designs of kayaks, paddles and other such impliments were optimized for some particular conditions---like so many folks would have you believe---rather than just being random variations on a theme. This paddle must have weighed several pounds, even if it was made of spruce, and I wonder if close inspection of his parka wouldn't show ripped seams in its sleeves where his arm muscles had bulged through. Also, although you can't see it in the pic, it makes you wonder if the paddle could have been supported in its middle during use similar to the Pt. Barrow kayaks.

BTW, I think that for just cruising in relatively flat water long paddles are more efficient than short ones. With long paddles you can use less arc in your stroke. This keeps the blade closer to right angles to the boat---the force vector is parallel to the boat--- and you do not waste energy pulling through inefficient angles. Of course, because you don't have to lift them at so high and angle they are also dryer.