Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board

Why?

Posted By: Randy Knauff
Date: Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 2:48 a.m.

In Response To: Feathering (Robert Woodard)

: Ok, for the last 5 years I've been an unfeathered paddler. For the last year
: I've been crossing over to feathered when paddling into the wind. I think
: I've decided to go 100% of the time, but I'll need to re-learn a lot of
: skills. Any tips fom those who have been there, done that?

Relearning is great if it is an improvement, but...........

* = reasonably important

Unfeathered
*1. Biomechanically less likely to cause wrist stress injury or repetitive motion injury.
*2. Biomechanically lets you have a stronger stroke with both wrists in line for pushing. (Even the Necky demo racing team could not move their arms in any possible way to get their control wrist in line without changing both hands positions when asked.)
*3. Consistant blade position for high bracing on the water more quickly on either side.
4. Consistant blade position for low bracing on the water more quickly on either side.
*5. Mechanical/physical advantage when the wind is from the rear.
*6. Less negative effect on the paddle (lift, twist, pull or upset) when the wind is from the right.
*7. Less negative effect on the paddle when the wind is from the left.
*8. Easier to brace across another kayak for multiple kayak rafting or rescues (no vertical blades on decks.)
10. Fits kayak deck contour for standard kayak entry and exit braces from shore or dock (no vertical blade in rocks or sand or across deck.)
*11. Blade (flat versus vertical) clears kayak bottom more easily during roll set up and paddle sweep.
*12. Blade (flat versus vertical) clears kayak side and bottom more easily during high sculling brace and sculling back up.
13. When stopped in a wind with your paddle across your boat, you don't always have one vertical blade catching the wind.
14. Parallel blades slice through very large waves or surf with less paddle twist.
15. Wind tunnel tests show feather angles below 60-65 degrees do not save measurable energy and may add to paddle handling difficulties.

Feathered
*1. Is an advantage when paddling into strong head winds if the feather angle is 60-65 degrees or more.
2. Saves relearning (but not work or safety)if you came to sea kayaking from a strong, long whitewater background. Even whitewater paddlers are dropping down to 45 degree feathers and when they realize there is no advantage to this we'll probably see more white water paddlers with 30 degree and then unfeathered paddles.

Randy

Messages In This Thread

Feathering
Robert Woodard -- Tuesday, 5 August 2003, at 9:18 p.m.

Why?
Randy Knauff -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 2:48 a.m.

Agreed, especially for RSI
Pamela -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 9:33 a.m.

Re: Agreed, especially for RSI
Liz -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 10:48 a.m.

I paddled 940 kms with a feathered paddle...
Robert N Pruden -- Monday, 11 August 2003, at 5:56 a.m.

Re: Agreed, especially for RSI
Pamela -- Tuesday, 12 August 2003, at 5:20 p.m.

Re: Why?
Val Wann -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 11:25 a.m.

Re: Why?
Tim Mattson -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 7:34 p.m.

Help me out
Randy Knauff -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 12:04 a.m.

A case for 90 degrees
Val Wann -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 12:18 p.m.

Re: A case for 90º
Shawn Baker -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 12:29 p.m.

Re: A case for 90º
Val Wann -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 1:35 p.m.

Yep
Mick -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 7:48 p.m.

While on this subject
Mick -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 1:10 a.m.

I'm begging the question
Shawn Baker -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 10:40 a.m.

Don't know
Mick -- Monday, 11 August 2003, at 1:22 a.m.

Could you explain this?
haresfur -- Monday, 11 August 2003, at 8:56 p.m.

Ummm *LINK*
Mick -- Monday, 11 August 2003, at 11:32 p.m.

Heretic !
Jed -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 9:01 a.m.

Or...
Brian Nystrom -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 12:29 p.m.

Re: Heretic !
Robert Woodard -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 5:54 a.m.

Euro paddle and BCU stuff
Nelson Labbe -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 7:35 a.m.

Re: Euro paddle and BCU stuff
Shawn Baker -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 10:44 a.m.

Re: Euro paddle and BCU stuff
Robert Woodard -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 11:22 p.m.

Re: Bury the stick
Shawn Baker -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 11:40 p.m.

Puzzled??
Randy Knauff -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 11:15 a.m.

Re: Puzzled??
sing -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 11:26 a.m.

Re: Puzzled??
Shawn Baker -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 11:30 a.m.

why feather WW?
Randy Knauff -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 12:20 p.m.

One reason
Shawn Baker -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 1:24 p.m.

Re: why feather WW?
sing -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 4:01 p.m.

Jeeze..
sing -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 4:04 p.m.

cut and glue
Randy Knauff -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 6:48 p.m.

Re: why feather WW?
Ken Ferschweiler -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 3:16 p.m.

For what it's worth *LINK*
haresfur -- Friday, 8 August 2003, at 12:24 a.m.

I agree
Brian Nystrom -- Friday, 8 August 2003, at 12:47 p.m.

Re: Puzzled??
Tim Mattson -- Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 7:37 p.m.

Re: Puzzled??
Ron -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 1:16 a.m.

Re: Puzzled??
Shawn Baker -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 10:47 a.m.

Well Said...
sing -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 11:27 a.m.

Cool drives decision
M. Hamilton -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 2:56 p.m.

Re: Cool drives decision
Robert Woodard -- Thursday, 7 August 2003, at 11:18 p.m.

Yeah, my paddles have 360 degree feather!
Brian Nystrom -- Friday, 8 August 2003, at 12:30 p.m.

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