: I'm building a paddle with an asymmetrical shape (per Nick's book). I can't
: figure out which is the top of the blade and which is the bottom! Is the
: lower half of the blade slightly longer and narrower than the top, or vice
: versa?

Just last spring I had to trim the assymmetrical blades of a paddle that I had shortened radically for a more high angle and close to boat stroke. It was a Lendal Powermaster and evidently ment for shaft lengths at least 220, so the balance just wasn't there anymore.

Having cut it into a more symmetrical, albeit not quite square, shape it again performs without exessive torque or flutter.

So apparently this assymmetry should be a function of the angle of immersion and thus also of shaft length, in extreme cases at least.

Enjoy your project!