Canoe Instruction and Guiding
Boats, Paddles, Gear
Canoes
Solo vs Tandem
Materials
Shapes
Paddles
Parts: Canoe paddles are comprised of "parts", despite often being a single piece of material. These "parts" refer to sections of the paddle and used in reference to hand position, stroke orientation, and shape.
Common "Parts":
Blade - often used in reference to "Power" or "back" faces. The blade is "the wider part of the paddle that is inserted fully into the water" (Gullion, 2009). The blade is portion of the paddle that makes direct contact with the water and provides power for the strokes.
Shaft - In the determination of paddles lengths, the shaft serves as the connection simply between the blade and the handle. Taller paddlers will require longer paddles, which typically manifests in a longer shaft. Paddlers will use the shaft as the point of placement of , what is referred to as, the power hand. Many paddles may be designed with a specific covering or grip on the shaft, indicating an area of use. Ideally, the power hand may be placed where ever convenience, comfort, and efficiency demand.
Shafts are not necessarily always straight. For some flat-water excursions, a bent shafted paddle may serve the efficiency of the paddler. Designed to keep the blade in the water longer, a bent shaft paddle can provide a longer forward stroke since the blade remains ideally perpendicular for a longer distance through the paddler's rotation.
Bent shaft pear gripped paddle being used on an offside forward stroke.
Grip - The other, control, hand is situated at teh grip, where it gains some advantage of leverage over the adjustment of the balde. The grip is designed in many congiuarations. Long-distance paddleing may be served by a pear shaped grip, where the paddle sits evenly distributed over the palm of teh hand. A T-HSaped grip "allows greater control in changing the blade angle", but may sit with the comfort of a pear shaped grip (Gullion, 2009)
Materials
Shapes
Sizing