Paddle
The paddle is used to move z. B. a Canadian , dragon boat or outrigger canoe by muscle power . The paddle consists of a shaft, at the ends of which there is a knob for the hand and a paddle blade to transfer the power to the water. The pommel is partly a T-handle or spade handle (mostly with plastic paddles), partly a palm handle (often with wooden paddles). For a more detailed description of the paddle parts, see paddle .
Paddle paddles are available in different paddle lengths, which are determined by the length of the shaft and the length of the blade. The right paddle length depends on the area of use: white water paddles have a short, wide paddle blade, hiking paddles for lakes have a narrow, long one. The paddle length also depends on the sitting posture and height in the boat: racing Canadians are paddled upright on their knees and therefore need paddles with a longer shaft. The generally used method for the correct paddle length is: The paddle should reach around the chin when the paddler is standing. This method only takes into account the total length of the paddle, not the individual lengths of the shaft and blade. A more reliable method is to measure the correct paddle length by the shaft length only. This should reach from the bottom of the boat to the chin of the paddler sitting in the canoe.
A variety of paddle strokes not only allow the experienced paddler to drive straight ahead alone in the boat without changing sides of the paddle, but also a variety of mobility up to canoe ballet .
Material and execution
Paddle paddles are commercially available in different shapes and made of different materials.
A distinction is made between the spade handle (T-handle) and the palm handle. The T-handle is mainly used in moving water while a palm handle is used in shallow water. The paddles also differ in the lengths and widths of the paddle blades. Long, narrow paddle blades can be used in deep water while rather broad, short forms are mainly used in white water. The range of materials used ranges from traditional wood to modern materials such as composite , Kevlar , PU foam ( RIM paddle).
Wood
Before the introduction of modern wood glue, stable paddle blades could only be made in a limited width. Traditional beavertail or ottertail paddles reflect this development step - they are consistently suitable for paddling on deeper waters, as they make up for the lack of width of the blade with greater length. Often they are used to practice paddling techniques that involve returning the paddle in the water ( Canadian Style , Indian Stroke).
plastic
Particularly inexpensive paddles are made from simple polystyrene (PS) as a combination of an aluminum shaft with a knob and a blade . At best they are suitable as children's paddles or for a bathing boat. But there are also paddles with plastic blades that are more resistant.
GRP
Paddles with a blade made of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP) are robust and durable. They usually have an aluminum shaft. The shaft should be covered with plastic shrink tubing for thermal insulation.
literature
- Gary McGuffin, Joanie McGuffin: The fascination of canoeing. HEEL Verlag, Königswinter 2000, ISBN 3-89365-849-1 .