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Re: Paddle: Feathered vs Unfeathered
By:Mike Savage
Date: 12/10/2007, 6:18 am
In Response To: Paddle: Feathered vs Unfeathered (Greg Clopton)

: I've always used my paddle in about a 30 degree feathered position. This
: seemed natural and it felt to me that I was getting less repetitive stress
: in my wrists from this setup. As I've listened to those advocates of GPs,
: I've begun to rethink what I've always done. Since I'm planning to build
: myself a couple of paddles to go with my still uncompleted boat, I'm
: wondering if I should try moving away from a feathered paddle. I'm aware
: of the advantage unfeathered paddles offer for a quick, unexpected brace.
: Other than personal preference, what suggestions would people make?

Hi Greg,
If you are going to make a couple of paddles, why not make a range of types or styles? Feathered and un-feathered.
You already have a 30 degree paddle, make one similar but unfeathered or just unfeather the one you have and test that. Make a GP style paddle and try that for a while. See which blade type you prefer.
Think on where you paddle. Shallow water, go for more broad-bladed paddles, deep water, a slimmer blade can be better.

Personally, I'd say build a Greenland style paddle and try it. If you have any damage to an arm or shoulder, a GP tends to have less stress impact than most spoon or Euro style paddles.

Any talk about advantages or disadvantages between feather/non-feather, GP/EP is fraught with controversy. Ignore it. You are the one swinging the paddle, use what works best for you in the conditions you paddle.

My opinion :) is to make a GP anyway. It's one of the most versatile paddle types around. And you don't have go too light in final weight, the weight is usually supported by the water in use anyway.

Hope this helps,
Mike Savage
South West Cork

Messages In This Thread

Paddle: Feathered vs Unfeathered
Greg Clopton -- 12/9/2007, 9:41 pm
build & try both
ChuckS -- 12/10/2007, 11:25 pm
Re: Paddle: Feathered vs Unfeathered
Dave Houser -- 12/10/2007, 8:17 pm
Re: Paddle: Feathered vs Unfeathered
Bryan Hansel -- 12/10/2007, 11:20 am
Re: Paddle: Feathered vs Unfeathered
Bill Hamm -- 12/11/2007, 2:28 am
Re: Paddle: Feathered vs Unfeathered
Gordon Masor -- 12/11/2007, 12:13 am
Hijack!
Dave Gentry -- 12/11/2007, 11:29 am
Re: Hijack!
Alex Ferguson -- 12/11/2007, 4:54 pm
ad nauseam
Dave Gentry -- 12/11/2007, 7:00 pm
Re: ad nauseam
Gordon Masor -- 12/12/2007, 2:53 am
Re: ad nauseam
Bill Hamm -- 12/17/2007, 2:07 am
Historical POV
Reg Lake -- 12/11/2007, 6:20 pm
Re: Hijack!
Mike Savage -- 12/11/2007, 1:48 pm
Re: Hijack!
Dave Gentry -- 12/11/2007, 3:14 pm
Re: Paddle: Feathered vs Unfeathered
Kris Buttermore -- 12/10/2007, 1:21 pm
Re: Paddle: Feathered vs Unfeathered
Mike Scarborough -- 12/10/2007, 10:25 am
Re: Paddle: Feathered vs Unfeathered
JohnK -- 12/10/2007, 4:59 pm
Kinesiology
Pedro Almeida -- 12/10/2007, 9:29 am
Re: Kinesiology
eric -- 12/10/2007, 9:45 pm
Re: Kinesiology
TOM RAYMOND -- 12/10/2007, 10:17 am
Re: Kinesiology
Mike Savage -- 12/10/2007, 10:41 am
Re: Kinesiology
TOM RAYMOND -- 12/10/2007, 11:48 am
Re: Kinesiology
Mike Savage -- 12/10/2007, 3:17 pm
another example
Pedro Almeida -- 12/10/2007, 9:47 am
Re: Paddle: Feathered vs Unfeathered
fred Gasper -- 12/10/2007, 8:51 am
Re: Paddle: Feathered vs Unfeathered
Mike Savage -- 12/10/2007, 6:18 am
Re: Paddle: Feathered vs Unfeathered
Bill Hamm -- 12/10/2007, 3:41 am
Re: Paddle: Feathered vs Unfeathered
JohnK -- 12/10/2007, 2:59 am
A different POV
Dave Gentry -- 12/9/2007, 11:26 pm
Re: A different POV??
Randy Knauff -- 12/10/2007, 1:21 am
Feathering advantage is real
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 12/10/2007, 11:28 am
Re: Feathering advantage is real
Rob Macks / Laughing Loon------WebKitFormBoundaryU -- 12/11/2007, 11:44 am
Re: Feathering advantage is real
Kris Buttermore -- 12/19/2007, 1:59 pm
Not either/or but appropriate both
Randy Knauff -- 12/10/2007, 4:05 pm
Re: Not either/or but appropriate both
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 12/10/2007, 7:30 pm
Yes, a different POV
Dave Gentry -- 12/10/2007, 3:31 am
Question
Jay Babna -- 12/10/2007, 8:39 am
Re: Question
Bill Hamm -- 12/12/2007, 1:46 am
Re: Question
Dave Gentry -- 12/10/2007, 1:50 pm
The Whitewater Perspective------WebKitFormBoundary *LINK*
GlazedDonut------WebKitFormBoundaryCg1JNknuAcMS+s6 -- 12/10/2007, 10:30 pm
Re: The Whitewater Perspective------WebKitFormBoun
Dave Gentry -- 12/10/2007, 11:49 pm
Re: The Whitewater Perspective------WebKitFormBoun
Duane Strosaker -- 12/10/2007, 11:45 pm
Re: Question------WebKitFormBoundaryJred+soBaAm3Im
Jay Babna------WebKitFormBoundaryJred+soBaAm3Imqe -- 12/10/2007, 3:15 pm
Re: Question------WebKitFormBoundaryJred+soBaAm3Im
Kris Buttermore -- 12/10/2007, 4:20 pm
Re: Question------WebKitFormBoundaryJred+soBaAm3Im
Mike Savage -- 12/10/2007, 5:28 pm
Well...
Pedro Almeida -- 12/10/2007, 8:47 am