I had an index on my straight-shaft paddle to make sure I could feel that
the blades were in the correct position to roll. I've never bothered to put
an index on my BS paddle; it just naturally falls into the correct position.

Padeen


"Bill Tuthill" wrote in message
...
Could someone please summarize for me the arguments in favor of
bent-cranskshaft kayak paddles? I already know some arguments
against them (below) but am trying to understand the issue.
Maybe it's due to upper body rotation, but when I tried out a
bent-shaft in a store, my wrists rotated just as much.

. break more easily due to deformed shaft
. make sculling and draw strokes more difficult
. higher cost
. are harder to tie onto the roofrack
. cannot be made of wood

The advantages of bent-shaft canoe paddles are obvious to me,
but not the advantages of bent-shaft kayak paddles. Searching
old messages I found some points about easier rolling and
less RSI, but if I don't have problems with a straight shaft,
how would switching help me?

break more easily due to deformed shaft
. make sculling and draw strokes more difficult
. higher cost
. are harder to tie onto the roofrack
. cannot be made of wood

The only one that is accurate is higher cost, but even that is only true when
comparing within one line of paddles.

I find it is more comfortable on my wrists than the identical paddle
(lightning) without the crank. I don't have wrist problems, but do like the
crank more. As stated, YMMV.

Brian Blankinship

Blankibr wrote:

break more easily due to deformed shaft
. make sculling and draw strokes more difficult
. higher cost
. are harder to tie onto the roofrack
. cannot be made of wood

The only one that is accurate is higher cost, but even that is only true when
comparing within one line of paddles.

However, he forgot to list that they limit your hand positions and are a pain
with extended paddle strokes. This isn't a big deal for WW, but for sea kayaking
it can be.

I agree with Michael; if you don't have a specific need for a bent shaft paddle,
there is no advantage to them.

--
Regards

Brian