Boat Building Forum

Find advice on all aspects of building your own kayak, canoe or any lightweight boats

Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle....
By:Thomas Duncan
Date: 3/5/2011, 8:20 pm
In Response To: Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle.... (Alex Ferguson)

: One thing that I've been told and I have noticed makes a difference
: to performance is edge thickness. I'd suggest trying one with
: "moderately" sharp edges. I find they have less
: tendency to flutter (they shouldn't if used correctly) and seem
: to grip the water better.

: Any comments from other users?

I've also found I enjoy sharper edges for general paddling than Bob's appear to be from this photo, but I think the beauty of this paddle might offset any possible performance trade-offs... : )
I'd second the suggestion to try sharper edges, and a bit fuller convex shape to the blades towards the tips on the next one, this one looks perhaps a bit flat. I carved 8 or 10 maybe, from cheap pine 2x4s and laminations, then I finally had to break down and buy one from Don Beale before I really started to get a good feel for one example of a good GP shape that I could actually hold and use. Don's paddle taught me to keep the root of the blades very full and round so they fill the palm. I'd been making mine too flat through the shoulder, a common mistake I think. I was finding it actually strained my fingers after a couple hours, and that resolved when I started making mine fuller there.

Messages In This Thread

Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle.... *PIC*
Bob Beaullieu -- 3/5/2011, 2:47 pm
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle.... *PIC*
Bob Beaullieu -- 3/5/2011, 2:58 pm
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle....
Don T -- 3/5/2011, 3:00 pm
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle....
Bob Beaullieu -- 3/5/2011, 3:05 pm
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle.... *PIC*
Bob Beaullieu -- 3/5/2011, 2:59 pm
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle....
Scott Baxter -- 3/5/2011, 3:13 pm
NICE LOOKING PADDLE, ENJOY *NM*
Don Goss -- 3/5/2011, 3:33 pm
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle....
Alex Ferguson -- 3/5/2011, 5:53 pm
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle....
Thomas Duncan -- 3/5/2011, 8:20 pm
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle....
Thomas Duncan -- 3/5/2011, 8:26 pm
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle....
Brian -- 3/5/2011, 9:30 pm
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle....
Thomas Duncan -- 3/5/2011, 10:14 pm
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle....
Bill Hamm -- 3/6/2011, 12:55 am
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle....
Alex Ferguson -- 3/6/2011, 2:46 am
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle....
Bill Hamm -- 3/6/2011, 8:53 am
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle....
Noel Bennett -- 3/5/2011, 8:19 pm
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle....
Bill Hamm -- 3/6/2011, 8:56 am
Re: Paddle: My first Greenland Style Paddle....
Bill Hamm -- 3/6/2011, 12:48 am