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Re: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
By:Timothy - Toronto, Ontario
Date: 10/2/1998, 2:23 pm
In Response To: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts (Brian C.)

"I know that they went out to 20ft, and had a pivot mount on the kayak, so you didn't have to hold up its weight."

I've never heard of such a thing. Most of what I've read advocates shorter paddles as the ideal, with the storm paddle being the ultimate, but I'm not so sure. I read somewhere that altering paddle length tends to have a more pronounced effect than altering the width, so a long thin paddle makes sense.

I've also noticed that with the thinner paddle there seems to be less of a sweeping effect. If I paddle as wide and shallow with my European paddle I end up swinging the kayak from side to side, wasting energy.

Perhaps some mad engineers could comment on this?

As for hardening the ends, conventional wisdom is that a tenon should be used. Saw a slot in each end of the paddle, from thin edge to the other thin edge. Insert a piece of something to take the cross-grain stress, and hold it in place with pegs. Suggestions I've seen include wood with grain at right angles to the rest of the paddle, cast aluminum, and an epoxy pour. (If you're having trouble visualizing the tenon, the ends of the paddle should be structured like three ply ply-wood, with the tenon being the centre ply.)

Another option is to attach a strip of something (bone, brass, plastic).

I have no experience with either of these methods, though.

By the way, where did you get the picture and the 20' paddle info? Got a link?

Messages In This Thread

Greenland paddle links
Timothy - Toronto, Ontario -- 10/2/1998, 10:27 am
Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
Brian C. -- 10/2/1998, 11:01 am
I'll build one :)
Brian C. -- 10/5/1998, 6:39 pm
Re: you should
Nick Schade -- 10/6/1998, 2:42 pm
practice for when I get stuck on an Island
Brian C. -- 10/6/1998, 3:01 pm
Re: practice for when I get stuck on an Island
Jerry Weinraub -- 10/6/1998, 7:12 pm
Re: Laminated shaft
Don Beale -- 10/6/1998, 12:46 pm
Re: Laminated shaft
Timothy - Toronto, Ontario -- 10/6/1998, 1:34 pm
is a ferrule worth it on a greenland?
Brian C. -- 10/6/1998, 10:22 am
Re: is a ferrule worth it on a greenland?
Don Beale -- 10/6/1998, 5:36 pm
reinforcing paddle tips
Paul Jacobson -- 10/4/1998, 9:11 pm
Re: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
Paul Stomski -- 10/2/1998, 8:54 pm
Re: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
Timothy - Toronto, Ontario -- 10/2/1998, 2:23 pm
Where I got the picture
Brian C. -- 10/2/1998, 4:04 pm
Re: Where I got the picture
Roger Tulk -- 10/5/1998, 12:44 am
Mr. Hitchinson's book has photos
Brian C. -- 10/5/1998, 11:02 am
Re: Mr. Hitchinson's book has photos
Roger Tulk -- 10/7/1998, 12:23 am
I guess we could contact a museum...
Brian C. -- 10/6/1998, 1:51 pm
OK, I did!
Roger Tulk -- 10/12/1998, 9:17 pm
Re: OK, I did!
Mark Kanzler -- 10/14/1998, 3:44 pm
Re: Mr. Hitchinson's book has photos
Mark Kanzler -- 10/5/1998, 11:53 am
Sorry, that's Derek Hutchinson
Brian C. -- 10/6/1998, 12:31 am
Don't know
Brian C. -- 10/6/1998, 12:25 am
Found the book
Brian C. -- 10/6/1998, 12:38 am
Re: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
Mark Kanzler -- 10/2/1998, 3:10 pm
Re: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
Nick Schade -- 10/2/1998, 2:12 pm
Mystical Greenland paddle
Jay Babina -- 10/5/1998, 10:10 am
Re: Mystical Greenland paddle
Nick Schade -- 10/5/1998, 6:30 pm
Re: Use what works for you.
Mark Kanzler -- 10/5/1998, 6:59 pm
Re: Use what works for you.
Nick Schade -- 10/6/1998, 2:28 pm
Re: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
Timothy - Toronto, Ontario -- 10/2/1998, 2:47 pm
Wide vs. Skinny paddle blades
David Dick -- 10/6/1998, 9:14 pm
Re: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
Nick Schade -- 10/2/1998, 7:53 pm
length vs sprint/endurance
Brian C. -- 10/7/1998, 3:20 pm
Re: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
Mark Kanzler -- 10/4/1998, 11:15 am
Re: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
Nolan Penney -- 10/5/1998, 6:37 am
Re: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
Nick Schade -- 10/6/1998, 6:25 pm
Re: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
Nolan Penney -- 10/7/1998, 6:53 am
Re: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
Nick Schade -- 10/7/1998, 2:09 pm
Re: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
Nolan Penney -- 10/7/1998, 3:21 pm
Re: Paddle flutter
Timothy - Toronto, Ontario -- 10/7/1998, 2:47 pm
Re: Paddle flutter
Nick Schade -- 10/7/1998, 3:49 pm
Re: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
Mark Kanzler -- 10/8/1998, 12:55 am
Re: Length of Ancient paddles vs the Modern counterparts
Nolan Penney -- 10/7/1998, 3:17 pm
Re: Cadence
Mark Kanzler -- 10/7/1998, 3:29 pm
Re: Punchline
Timothy - Toronto, Ontario -- 10/8/1998, 8:33 am
Re: Cadence
Nolan Penney -- 10/8/1998, 6:57 am