I too have some high dollar paddles sitting by as loaners that I don't use any more. I too like my greenland style paddles for the following reasons:

1. If I want to try another length or width or design change I just take an afternoon off and knock out another one!

2. I make my loam bigger than any of the "store bought" paddles, and this keeps me from getting blisters from paddling.

3. I like the way the blade pops out of the water on the end of the stroke.

4. It is easy on my body when I paddle for 7 hours.

5. It just makes me happy :-))

I make drip rings by cutting an oval piece of truck tire inner tube rubber to fit the blade tight at the point where I want a drip ring, then just stretch it over the end of the blade and slide it down. Works great and takes 10 min. to make.

If a greenland paddle flutters at any rate of pressure, the blade needs to be flatter. My paddles do not flutter.

An old kayak racer once commented to me at a put in, that he didn't think I would get far with that skinny blade. I just asked him if he could press 200 pounds. He said yes, and I asked him how many times. He said a couple of times. I said "well, you would be doing 400 pounds of work". Now I asked him how many times he could press 25 pounds. He said "a lot". I said, if he pressed 25 pounds 20 times he would be doing 500 pounds of work. He understood the math but still thought I didn't have both oars in the water so to speak :-)) That is why they make Chocolate and Vanilla I guess. Happy paddling.....Ron