: Mike--

: You're saying that the wide bladed paddle may have evolved independently of
: the introduction of the recreational kayak in Europe. And that it might as
: correctly be called a fen-paddle or a river paddle as a Euro-paddle.

: Mike

Yep, double bladed paddles, slim or wide, aren't restricted to recreational kayaks. With water craft, things tend to evolve from a work environment to the recreational. Over time, some of the tools used change to suit the more specific needs of recreation, rather than the more generalised tools of work.

Kayaking in Greenland has some of this evolution, where kayaks are built as efficient rolling machines, modification of paddles for racing, etc.
In Greenland, the ancestral forms are still side-by-side with the more specialised forms.
Less so in Europe, where industrialisation drove a faster evolution and older forms got lost through change and lack of use.

You could call EP's river paddles but then, those who use EP at sea might complain.

Mike Savage
South West Cork