Paul-- You're on to a key element in this discussion. As you point out, it's not all that difficult to build a machine to measure paddle efficiency. But I've never seen a paddle paddle by it's self! Every paddle is operated by a paddler, and the variety among paddlers is ENORMOUS. (Forget the BS about wear and tear limits on the human body. The variability on that is greater than enormous.) All any individual paddler cares about is their own efficiency on a particular day in a particular boat under particular conditions.

It's wrong to expect that there is one optimal paddle or even to expect that a specific paddler will be most efficient with the same paddle as other variables are altered. But it's correct to study different paddles and to try to understand why they are different.

I think I've said something similar to this before: The Complete Paddler is proficient with different types of paddles and different types of kayaks and understands the appropriate times to use them.

Mike Scarborough
Friendship Kayak

It's a beautiful day here; I'm going to grab the Pintail and my fen-type paddle and get out on the water.