Is there a reason why bent shaft for sea kayaks don't seem popular at
kayak stores ? Looking for recommendation on bent shaft sea kayak paddles ?

On 7-May-2005, Drew Cutter wrote:

Is there a reason why bent shaft for sea kayaks don't seem popular at
kayak stores ?

They are not as popular as they were several years ago and they are pricier
than straight shaft. It might also be a function of how much the staff like
bent shafts.

Mike

Michael Daly wrote:
On 7-May-2005, Drew Cutter wrote:


Is there a reason why bent shaft for sea kayaks don't seem popular at
kayak stores ?


They are not as popular as they were several years ago and they are pricier
than straight shaft. It might also be a function of how much the staff like
bent shafts.

Mike

Also, unless you have a specific problem that a bent shaft paddle will
help to resolve (wrist pain, etc.), the limited hand positions they
offer are a disadvantage. If yo like to slide the paddle, you won't like
a bent shaft. Additionally, it seems that many people with wrist, elbow
or shoulder problems are turning to Greenland paddles for relief. You
can buy them cheaper (typically) or make them yourself for a few dollars.

Brain ,

Thanks for the info on Greenland style.

Brian Nystrom wrote:
Michael Daly wrote:

On 7-May-2005, Drew Cutter wrote:


Is there a reason why bent shaft for sea kayaks don't seem popular at
kayak stores ?



They are not as popular as they were several years ago and they are
pricier
than straight shaft. It might also be a function of how much the
staff like
bent shafts.

Mike


Also, unless you have a specific problem that a bent shaft paddle will
help to resolve (wrist pain, etc.), the limited hand positions they
offer are a disadvantage. If yo like to slide the paddle, you won't like
a bent shaft. Additionally, it seems that many people with wrist, elbow
or shoulder problems are turning to Greenland paddles for relief. You
can buy them cheaper (typically) or make them yourself for a few dollars.

Agreed.

I agree that wrist pain can be caused by poor technique. However much of
the time it's usually caused by using a paddle that has to much feather
angle thus over rotating the wrists and can also be caused by using a shaft
that is to big for one's hands causing over gripping. Some people are more
prone to wrist problems than other just by their body make up and especially
if their job already requires wrist stress. A bent shaft can be a great
reliever to these stresses as well as a small shaft bent shaft. I acquired
this information when I repped for a Werner and felt the full benefits of a
small shaft bent shaft after several years of having carpal tunnel.

Courtney


"Melissa" wrote in message
...
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Hash: RIPEMD160

Hi Brian,

On Sun, 08 May 2005 13:07:31 GMT, you wrote:

Also, unless you have a specific problem that a bent shaft paddle
will help to resolve (wrist pain, etc.), the limited hand positions
they offer are a disadvantage. If yo like to slide the paddle, you
won't like a bent shaft. Additionally, it seems that many people
with wrist, elbow or shoulder problems are turning to Greenland
paddles for relief.

I concur, though I would add the following...

Often enough, "wrist pain, etc." is caused by poor technique. In
cases like that, seeking a technical solution (bent shaft) might
represent a needless restriction of one's ultimate possibilities.
Also, choosing a Greenland Paddle certainly doesn't have to be seen
as a solution to wrist pain; especially the type caused by poor
technique. Poor technique with a GP can cause just as much pain as
with any other type of paddle.

For my first several years of paddling, I used, exclusively, a
fiberglass Werner San Juan with an 80 degree feather. I paddled, as
I still do, almost every day, year 'round. Most often for several
hours a day, and often in demanding conditions that necessitated
non-stop paddling for hours on end in wind, waves, and current. Never
once, in all those years, did I experience any wrist, hand, or arm
pain. Even so, once I discovered the joys of using a Greenland
Paddle, I made the switch, and I've been very happy with it. I'm
still comfortable using the old paddle with the 80 degree feather,
but I just prefer the GP.

Now, if someone really does suffer from certain types of chronic pain
*not* caused by poor technique, and can only find relief with either
a bent shaft or GP (or any other alternative), that's great. I would
just recommend that most people look first at their techniques, and
think about their preferred methods of manipulating a paddle in
general before deciding that simply switching from one type of paddle
to another will be the "cure" to the problems they're having.

- --
Melissa

PGP Public Keys: http://www.freewebs.com/kuviahunnihautik/

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I'm one of those people. 1 Plate & 4 screws in my right arm. My bent
shaft Werner is a godsend, especially when paddling multiple days.

On Mon, 9 May 2005 16:30:29 -0700, Melissa
wrote:

Now, if someone really does suffer from certain types of chronic pain
*not* caused by poor technique, and can only find relief with either
a bent shaft or GP (or any other alternative), that's great. I would
just recommend that most people look first at their techniques, and
think about their preferred methods of manipulating a paddle in
general before deciding that simply switching from one type of paddle
to another will be the "cure" to the problems they're having.

On 8 May 2005 01:45:42 GMT, Drew Cutter wrote:

Is there a reason why bent shaft for sea kayaks don't seem popular at
kayak stores ? Looking for recommendation on bent shaft sea kayak paddles ?


Greg Barton has a discussion on the Epic Kayak web page that does a
good job of putting bend shaft paddles in perspective. There are
places whene they offer some advantages, There are disadvantages that
most sea kayakers find out-weigh those advantanges.

k.pearson wrote:

Greg Barton has a discussion on the Epic Kayak web page that does a
good job of putting bend shaft paddles in perspective. There are
places whene they offer some advantages, There are disadvantages that
most sea kayakers find out-weigh those advantanges.

Could you give us the URL please? I couldn't find it using Google,
either under "bent" or "bend" shaft.

Don't whitewater kayakers find that bent shaft paddles give them
an advantage in rolling? Think so.

On 12 May 2005 10:45:40 -0700, Bill Tuthill wrote:

k.pearson wrote:

Greg Barton has a discussion on the Epic Kayak web page that does a
good job of putting bend shaft paddles in perspective. There are
places whene they offer some advantages, There are disadvantages that
most sea kayakers find out-weigh those advantanges.

Could you give us the URL please? I couldn't find it using Google,
either under "bent" or "bend" shaft.

Don't whitewater kayakers find that bent shaft paddles give them
an advantage in rolling? Think so.

Bill

This is the URL for the short article that Greg wrote in the Epic
Kayaks Oct 2004 newsletter.

http://www.epickayaks.com/newsletter...ctober2004.htm

I've always been one to follow the lead of the top competive athletes
when it comes to new equipment. If bent shaft was really beneficial
in sea kayaks, I think we'd be seeing them in racing use. I've tried
one, but Greg's comment about needing to space it exactly for each
paddler is right on. I needed about a 1/2 inch narrowerd spacing, and
it felt awkward.

Karl