As I am letting strips dry for the deck on the kayak, I have been thinking about a paddle. I have seen and talked with people about the Greenland paddle but I have never talked with anybody about a Aleut paddle.

Does anybody have an opinion about the Aleut paddle as compared to the Greenland paddle? I know that it use a different stroke as compared to the Greenland Paddle. Does the ridge require a groove or would a solid ridge be just as good.

I found some plans on the net by Lew Plummer which is a copy of a Aleut Paddle in a museum. In Wolfgan Brinck's book he shows sizing the paddle similar to the Greenland Paddle, how does everyone else size their paddles?

Has anybody had problems with the paddles warping due to being exposed to water and then drying? Does the finish help prevent this?

Thanks
Ray Kissane