for me, it boils down to using the materials I like best. Nothing
beats a nice carbon fiber paddle. They last, they are warm to the
touch, the (very little) flex is just right. And they are light
weight.

But they are all bent shafts. So, now I paddle with a bent shaft.

Except in whitewater. And even than, I likely have a bent shaft
tucked in as my spare.

-Dan V.

On 8 Mar 2004 14:24:58 -0800, (Ryan Morin)
wrote:

I want to buy some new paddles and was looking around and noticed that
there is a type that hasa bent blade.

Just wondering if it is a better way to go for fla****er lake and
river travel.

(Ryan Morin) wrote in message . com...
I want to buy some new paddles and was looking around and noticed that
there is a type that hasa bent blade.

Just wondering if it is a better way to go for fla****er lake and
river travel.

Hi Ryan,
FLA****ER:
Go bentshafts, particularly with less-than-accomplished paddlers
on-board....but the bow paddler in tandem, needs to know how to angle
their blade for efficiency in turning. Outside of that, the forward
touring stroke can be shorter and cleaner....with a more efficient
"catch" and "pull"..without the "end of pull" hangup for
newbies..making for a shorter stroke in tandem...will be appreciated
when/if you ever need that emergency power stroking (to shore...etc).
Straight-blades are definitely easier for newbies to get a grip on
tough/tricky current and are much easier to fend off a few rocks when
needed...as wood is the easiest on one's joints.

$.02
Steve