Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board

Re: Why?

Posted By: Val Wann
Date: Wednesday, 6 August 2003, at 11:25 a.m.

In Response To: Why? (Randy Knauff)

Feathering really does not have much to do with wind in "real world" situations. Especially since the wind is rarely from directly in front, and at any other angle a feathered paddle is either no advantage or even a disadvantage compared to unfeathered.

The reason to feather a paddle is that (depending on your particular stroke style) it can be MORE biomechanically efficient.

Try this sometime... get a stick to represent a paddle shaft (broom handle, PVC pipe, whatever) - just something to hold & "paddle" with that won't move you much and doesn't have "blades" to force you to orient it a particular way with the water. Now make a mark on your "control" side to indicate where the blade would be, and orient this correctly for a stroke on that side. Keep your "control" hand in that spot, but allow the shaft to turn in your other had for a while. Start "paddling" in your kayak (do this in calm water where you won't have to brace), focusing on using "proper" form (whatever that is for you) and keeping both wrists straight at all times. After you've gotten "into the groove", you'll probably find a position where you don't have to rotate the shaft in either hand yet you can keep your wrists straight throughout the stroke. Grip the shaft tightly with your "non-control" hand & stop paddling. Mark where the "blade" should be for that hand.

When you compare the marks on each end of your stick, you'll see what feather angle works best for your body & stroke style.

Any other angle - be it greater or less - is going to require either a different stroke style, rotating the shaft in your grip during a stroke, or bending your wrist. Forcing yourself to adapt to a 60-degree feather when your body/stroke works best with 80 degrees or 40 degrees or whatever is doing yourself a disservice.

If you're stuck with a paddle of "other than ideal" feather angle, see if you can adjust your stroke to compensate. If the angle on the paddle is greater than your "ideal", shift to a higher angle (closer to vertical) on the catch phase of your stroke. Contrariwise, lower your stroke angle if your ideal is, say, 73 degrees but you're stuck with a 60-degree paddle.

Of course, this is a case of "do as I say, not as I do" - I use a Greenland stick most of the time these days!

Val Wann

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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