: The speed "problem" has nothing to do with the boat - it's your
: paddle. From the pictures, it's clearly a Greenland design. But the boat
: is Aleutian. They don't even belong in the same ocean! Build yourself a
: proper Aleutian paddle, and you should pick up 3 or 4 knots.

: Just kidding. The boat is beautiful. But think of how much nicer it would
: look with a matching paddle. Besides, there are quite a few Outer Islands
: - and lots of Greenland paddles. But the Shooting Star is a rare boat, and
: deserves an equally rare paddle. I don't know how well Aleutian paddles
: perform, but that doesn't really matter, does it?

: Enjoy the new boat.

: Ken Finger

Ken- I know you are correct. I should be using a proper Aleutian paddle. A few years ago I got into building paddles, the first one being an Aleutian style. That paddle convinced me that a native paddle is the only way to fly. I built a bunch of Inuit style paddles and was able to build them quite light. I am sure an Aleutian paddle can be built lighter than the one I built first.To be honest, I don't notice a large difference between the power and lift of the Aleutian and Inuit style. I did use my Aleutian paddle to train for a race in a friends double Baidarka last month because it is a fairly heavy paddle. On race day I switched to the lighter Inuit paddle and it felt like a feather. We were the only boat out of about 200 with native paddles. Everytime I race I get at least on comment about my "toothpick paddle". We took a first place in the doubles class. I have had similar luck racing my OI with the native blade. I am a true believer!! Maybe the next project will be a matching Aleutian Paddle.Thanks for the inspiration!
Ken