: good afternoon everyone,

: in reference to my previous post about a west coast style paddle,

: I built 2 paddles after I finished My merganser 17W one is a
: traditional greenland symetrical (spruce) the other is sort of
: aluetian flat one side rounded on the other both 84"
: (cedar).

: The paddles are both comfortable, and on open water they cruise
: very nice , I prefer the cedar paddle (lighter).

: My issue is with paddling either of the two large rivers near me

: IE: when Im paddling against the current with my somewhat
: short/thin greenland paddles I have a hard time keeping up with
: people using euro paddles!! They are also in heavy short plastic
: boats and they just fly by me.

: keeping up with these euro paddlers going Upstream is an effort as
: I realy have to crank up the RPMs and in bicycle terms SPIN
: OUT!!. going downstream the greenland is super.

: Thus why Im thinking of making a west coast style paddle for more
: pizazz with less rpms on the river.

: any ideas?? blade width, length.... or As Bill Hamm advised Just do
: a longer and bit wider greenland style??

: for longish day paddles id use one of my greenland style paddles
: for sure but for a 2 hour on the river I want more paddle (I
: have to build though)???

: Not a whole bunch of info on the internet for west coast
: traditional paddles I saw a few photos of longer looms with more
: leaf shaped blades.

: many thanks

: 'John"

I use a greenland paddle on flat rivers all the time and have no problem at all keeping up. Mine is fairly short so my cadence is higher but it's wider. Technique is everything though with a GP, used flat like how a euro paddle is used the GP is very slow, you have to have cant to make the paddle work properly. The GP works much like a wing, though in a different direction, it should bury all by itself, if you have to push it into the water either the paddle is carved wrong or the cant angle is too little, IMHO.

Bill H.