On 20 Feb 2007 17:41:58 -0800, in rec.boats.paddle "Davej"
wrote:

I would like to give one of these a try sometime but what happens in
shallow water? How resistant are the flippers to damage? Also it seems
totally strange that the flippers don't have a retracted or stowed
position.

They're worth considering. In shallow water, you push one pedal all
the way forward folding the flippers against the hull and grab the
paddle. I'm guessing that, on impact with a hard object such as a
rock or submerged log, you'd probably damage the drive. You get
significant speed only when moving the pedals *fast*... there seems to
be a sharp drop-off as pedal speed is reduced.

My main gripe is that the user's legs are rotated upwards. Like I
said, I don't care for it; however, my wife likes hers.

Jones