Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board

Agreed, especially for RSI

Posted By: Pamela
Date: Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 9:33 a.m.

In Response To: Why? (Randy Knauff)

Randy,

I'm with you. If a paddler has any repetitive strain injury (I do), an unfeathered paddle is a must.

I was taught feathered and within a day I had to switch because of wrist pain.

Pamela

: 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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