: I've been studying up on making a Greenland paddle and have found the
: discussion on length to be very entertaining. Everyone has a different
: method to determine optimum length and then some sources just say go with
: a particular length unless your boat is especially wide (which mine is).

I've been reading a book, "Pole, paddle and portage". In a discussion of sanoe paddles in that book the author, Bill Riviere, cites an anecdote by Abraham Lincoln. The president responded to a comment about his height and long legs by saying that his legs were: "long enough to reach the ground'. Riviere believed the length of his canoe paddles should not be determined by some formula, but that they simply should be long enouhg to reach the water. He explains further that the width of the boat, and the height of the paddler when paddling are prime factors. In guiding he will stand so as to see the water conditions better, so, in his case a longer than "average" paddle is needed.

With your Greenland paddle you have a lot of flexibility, though. You really don't ahve to worry about the length! Just worry about making the loom in the center of your 8 foot board, and make it so that ou feel comfortable holding the paddle. Whatever is left of the board will be the blades. Paddle a while and if you find that you are burying a lot of wood in the water, go back and trim an inch or two off each end. You can slowly shorten the thing until you find that it is comfortable to use.

And if you shorten it too much? Glue on a piece of hardwood to serve as both a protective tip and to "stretch" it out. Or, save it for a spare and make your next one a bit longer.

Hope this helps

PGJ