I think part of the problem with paddle design is that there aren't many usable equations (sorry George) to do design work.

Also, there is a certain "feel" one gets about airplanes and boats. A good designer can just look at a design and predict some of the traits to be expected from the shape of the thing, and most of the time he'll be correct. Narrow boats are tippy. Long boats are fast. Tall boats are effected by the wind. Airplanes with stubby wings and short fuselages (short coupled) are harder to handle. Sailboats with small hulls and big sails are easily capsized. etc.

With paddles, there is length (a preference), weight (lighter is better), blade aspect ratio (preference), Blade symmetry (?), feathered or not (preference), materials, Shaft shape (preference), solid or take-apart, blade shape (?), curved blade, spooned blade, or flat blade.......It just doesn't lend itself well to science, or even to the eye. Even experience doesn't cause designers to agree on as many principles as most other types of design.

> Boy, I wish I could get this much heat generated about paddle
> design. Even less is known about it and still nobody will come forward
> with strong opinions.
> David