Two things.
If you are a newbie I would not put a tow rope on deck or around your
waste. You may be advertising a skill you are not ready to practice in
moving or tormented water yet. You need the rope but stowing it away
may be the best idea for now.

The feather on the paddle for white water is normally very small. often
flat it would likely be 10 perhaps 30 degrees. a sea paddle will be
longer 220 CM for me at 5'8" and my feathere angle is about 60 or 70
degrees for the sea. When in white water I try to borrow a shorter
paddle with little or no feather.
I use my junky WW paddle or a sea paddle when on the river. not the
best.

The feather on the paddle for white water is normally very small. often
flat it would likely be 10 perhaps 30 degrees. a sea paddle will be
longer 220 CM for me at 5'8" and my feathere angle is about 60 or 70
degrees for the sea. When in white water I try to borrow a shorter
paddle with little or no feather.

Can you clarify?

Amongst the group that we paddle with all the paddles are 90 degree through
to 45 degree, one or two 30 degree, but I can't think of any who paddle with
flat paddles - ie with no feather at all - there are some at the pool we
use, but three of the kayak groups I know who use the same pool all bring
their own paddles with either 45 or 90 degree blades.

Not looking for an argument, just not clear as to what you are saying
because it doesn't match what I see locally.

Ewan Scott

Ewan Scott wrote:

Amongst the group that we paddle with all the paddles are 90 degree through
to 45 degree, one or two 30 degree, but I can't think of any who paddle with
flat paddles - ie with no feather at all

I've got a variable feather paddle for sea kayaking: I use it flat
if there's a following wind or no wind, and into the wind will set
it at about 70, or a bit less (back towards 60) if there's not too
much of a blow.

Traditional Greenland paddles are all flat, but OTOH they're much
narrower than typical modern paddles so it's less of an issue.

My river/surf paddle is 67. I do like paddling flat for the sake
of my wrists but in surf it's hard enough banging out through
breakers in a wee boat to start with, adding extra wind resistance
when the wind is almost always blowing on to the shore is just
adding salt to the wound!

Pete.
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