I discovered that my tabletop I had so carefully built specifically to lay up paddles on had settled when I pulled a Redwood blank off it. Sounds real similar, bent but symmetrical.

I used it for quite awhile, and it was a little better on one side than the other but not a big difference. I thought holding the bow away from me was the better side, perhaps because it gives the blade a better angle at the end of the stroke.

As I was learning to roll, I broke it, and that was that. I wish now I had saved a broken blade for a hand-stick, but I burned it. Guess I better break another... I invested in a chunk of steel angle-iron to laminate blanks against, and havent had that problem since.

: Craig

: Since you are experimenting with greenland paddles thought you might give me
: your view on something. I made my first paddle from a 2 dlr home depot
: spruce stud. I apparently cut away the parts that were keeping it straight
: so I have possibly the first "bent" kayak paddle. Both blades
: angle away from the loom a few degrees, but it is symetrical. The paddle
: seems to work fine on one face with the blades angling forward but if you
: flip it over it all over the place. Off the flutter scale. Having little
: to zero kayaking experience I am wondering if I can use this one or if it
: will be more trouble/create bad habits. It doesn't seem that it would
: matter anymore than having a power and a back face on a conventional
: paddle.