Not sure where I know this from, whether it's Brian Nystrom's paddle making book, or Chuck Holst's paddle making PDF, but I was under the impression that Greenlanders feel it's important to be able to chin-up with one's paddle.

I could never see doing this with mine. I see a few things going into this:

1) Greenlanders I've met (of kayak hunting age, sorry Kampe) are generally not as tall or fat as I am. Therefore, their paddles would be shorter, and therefore a bit stronger than my slightly longer one.

2) I think there are probably more spruce paddles to be found in Greenland than Western Red Cedar. Therefore, they will be a bit heavier and probably stronger, thus allowing a skinny Greenland dude to do chin-ups, whilst plumper American middle-aged guys such as myself might break my paddle.

Brian

: My paddle is only 56oz light but when I'm using it it weighs a lot less. Wood
: floats. A bit "over-engineered" but it makes a fair chin-up
: bar too.

: Mike Savage
: South West Cork