: Anyway ..... I keep wanting to post to this forum about how much
: learning to use the single blade paddle has improved my double
: blade life.

Seconding this. Only downside is that now that I've taught myself how to do an underwater/indian stroke to silently sneak up on wildlife in my canoe, my kayak paddle feels like picking up a cudgel after using a scalpel.
Mind you.. the cudgel is one heck of a lot faster and more efficient against the miles..