Aleut Paddle Design

Greyak
Yeah, Greyak did a great on-the-water comparison a while ago, but I couldn’t find it.

Not incorrect
Thanks, the ventilation/cavitation switch is quite common, so no problem. It’s definitely true that both ventilation and cavitation create noise, so that’s not incorrect.

Good question
Greyak seems to have disappeared. I miss his contributions.

Tip design and flutter
I have been making/using/experimenting with a variety of traditional and modified traditional paddles for close to 20 years. Many years ago I was curious about the flutter variable between the Aleut and Greenland paddles, especially when used in a deliberate non-cant style. When used like this, the design aspect regarding the induced flutter intrigued me enough I felt it was worth some personal experimentation. I had a hunch that the tip design differences between the two styles may be a contributing factor. The following winter I made two basic Greenland paddles of similar WRC, length, width, thickness, loom and shoulder size. The only difference in design between the two paddles was the tip design. One paddle had the standard blunt Greenland paddle style end, the other paddle I shaped with a “V” tip of 90 deg.



The following paddling season I had a chance to take both paddles paddling for water trials. I had a GPS with me to verify a uniform speed when using both paddles. Both paddles I paddled with similar angles to the horizontal and with no cant, the intention was to induce flutter. After a series of trips it appeared evident to me that the paddle with the “V” tip had very diminish induced flutter as compared to the blunt end of the standard traditional Greenland paddle.



Now I can’t give anyone here an explanation in hydro-dynamic terms the true explanation for this varied phenomena. This was the best live experimentation process I could come up with at the time, and from my personal perspective it proved for me that a “V” point design diminished the likelihood of flutter. Consequently due to that experiment the majority of my paddles I have since created are of a “V” tip design, with the exception that the sharp point of the paddle is rounded to the arc of 25 cent quarter. I add the rounded end so as the end of the paddle when held in the palm of my hand when sculling is not an annoyance.



Chris Hess

This one?
http://www.paddling.net/message/showThread.html?fid=advice&tid=997074#997151

Paddle comparisons

– Last Updated: Mar-09-11 9:45 PM EST –

Chris, I have done a non-scientific paddle comparison also. In the last two years I bought two used Greenland 2 piece paddles. One (Feathercraft) has a noticeable center line and relatively flat sides going from the center line to quite narrow edges-sort of a thin diamond cross section. The second paddler has a elongated oval cross section and fatter edges. Both are about 88" in length and 3 1/4 width.

About ten times I have gone out paddling with paddlers from my club and had them try the two paddles, changing paddles about ever 5-10 min, for about 45 min-60 min. I didn't give them any information before or during the "trial" or even say it was an informal trial. At the end of the "trial" I just asked them which they preferred? All preferred the Feathercraft paddle shape. To my surprise I did too, and I had been paddling another paddle of the rounded oval shape (by the same paddle maker) whenever I chose a GP over my cherished Aleut.

Ron, I agree there are numerous factors that go into paddle performance and any shape can be made move or less powerful by varying those factors. My Aleut has somewhat similar blade area as my GPs (a guess, not measured) but has a very wide loom, so it does have a longer lever arm. The one I'm making presently will have a narrower loom, so I will be interested to see what difference I feel between them when paddling. I choose not to attempt scientific comparisons as I would rather spend my time paddling.

Dave

Interesting
I find this info about sharp points reducing flutter quite interesting. I imagine the point acts to anchor the separation line in place at the tip of the paddle, mitigating to some extent its ability to move around higher up on the paddle, which would reduce oscillations. Also, cutting away material at the corners reduces the moment arm over which unbalanced hydrodynamic forces can act at the paddle at the tip - pretty cool.

yep, now puff out each side
just a little bit to desired preference to gain a bit more catch or bite while still keeping it super smooth. Can even go wider @ the shoulders with this diamond shape.

yep, now puff out each side
Ahhhhh…, sounds like the Aleut paddle.

Yes, and if you want a stronger catch as with the Aleut as compared to a Greenland this is the way to go.

I have a paddle similar to what you describe. Besides a stronger catch during the paddle draw, the added end tip width area is also nice for added lift and support when used with a sculling recovery.



Chris Hess

kind of like the Mitchell Coastal
with a rib?

Mitchell Coastal vs. Aleut
I have both and I think there are similarities. The Coastal has wider and shorter blades though, and is symmetrical on both sides. With mine, it seems to ask for just a bit of a cant or it flutters a bit. Mine has more useful blade area than a 3-1/4" wide shouldered GP of the same overall length. It is decidedly more powerful and useful for quick acceleration or for correction strokes in bumpy conditions - the wide hand grip position and wider blades are key there. But the shaft is not indexed - mine is round and I wish it was oval …



With the Aleut you have the option of using either side and they seem to offer slightly different feel (at least on the one I carved). On mine, when used as the power side, the flat-ish side has a bit more power and feels more efficient in use. Just a firmer feel in the water. The ribbed side, when used as power side, seems to have a softer feel in the water and I think a little less power, but is more stable and not so prickly about canting - flutters less.



I am not sure if the above is entirely due to the ridge or to the offset in the loom though. Probably a combination of the two. Would be interesting to hear from someone who has the opposite offset, e.g. the smooth face is closer to the center line and the ridged face is closer to the outside line of the shaft…



I had a chance to paddle a GP that had such offset loom and it too had notable differences in feel between using the two sides even though the blades were symmetrical.



I have selected a “favorite” side on my Aleut yet. In flat conditions I seem to prefer the flat side as the power side. But the ribbed side seems better suited for rough water where it offers me more stability through the forward stroke.



I also like the wider loom on the Aleut for my use. Mine is very skinny and flexible Aleut so probably not the same as everyone esles - mine has a lot less power than a 3-1/4 GP of similar length. But is extremely easy and a pleasure to use at a relaxed pace. Still works well in high winds too - the skinny blades offer less windage and there is still enough power in the water to move. Rolling does not seem to be a problem due to the ridge - but mine is relatively low compared to what I’ve seen in other’s designs…

Mitchell Coastal
In a way yes,

The Mitchell Coastal is interesting in that the widest width of the blade looks to be about 10" or so down from the tip. Considering that the very end of a paddle is at the end of the arc of swing, and the tip travels the fastest through the paddling arc, then the far tip has the greatest catch. The Mitchell Coastal appears to disregards this. I made a paddle, in a way similar to this years ago and did not find it to my personal liking because it appeared to lack in as strong as a catch as I expected. Now I 'm not saying there is anything wrong with the Mitchell Coastal paddle design. Most likely the error was with me in not exploring other capabilities of this design.

Not really
If I remember correctly, he started the thread and it was a very thorough on-the-water analysis of the aleutian paddle. He gave numbers using both faces to see the difference. Once again, if I remember correctly, I think that one of the faces worked better at higher speeds, but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen his thread.

dont know about designs of kayak paddles
but i am sure it is just a matter of personal pref much like boats… Have you or anyone else used a Kayak paddle to solo with in a canoe… I have good J strokes both sides, so not much of an issue, but i have been thinking of trying it out

double blade paddle in canoes
Historically, both single blade paddles and double blade paddles have been used with both canoes and with kayaks. Presently, some kayakers use single bladed paddles and some canoeists use double blade paddles. A double blade paddle is NOT a kayak paddle; it a paddle with two blades.



More to the point of your question, I started using double blades paddles in a canoe in the 70s. I had be able to keep up with high school football players cranking their tandem canoes on weekend trips (showing the girls how strong they were). I was in a Mad River Explorer and my 6 year old son couldn’t provide much additional propulsion, so I turned to a double blade. Since that time I’ve been using double blades in pack canoes for 20 years.



The advantage of the double blade is its easier control the canoe in wind and it provides better speed than using a ‘J’ stroke style with single blade (never tried hit-n-switch, so I’m not sure where that would stack up for speed). The disadvantages are: Using a double blade with a canoe gets water in the canoe and on you from paddle drip. Can be refreshing on a hot day but not as pleasant on very cold days-I wear waterproof pants.



A double blade for a canoe needs to be longer than a double blade for kayaks. As always there are many variables: width of canoe? your height?, does the canoe have significant tumblehome? Are you planning to sit on the seat, kneel, or sit on bottom?



Without those specifics, I would guess at a length of 240 mm as a starting point for exploration of needed length.



Dave

I’ll take 10 of these 240mm paddles -:wink:
n/m

Sure many solo canoeists do

– Last Updated: Mar-10-11 8:50 PM EST –

but I can't quantify exact numbers.

BTW I use a kayak paddle. 230 works for me. I prefer to avoid longer paddles as they generate too much yaw with their longer lever arms. However my solo canoes are all less than 28 inches wide at the paddling station. The length and my stroke matches so that drippage is almost all outside the canoe. Sitting I can keep the blade entirely forward of mid thigh.. I cant do that on the bottom of the boat.

The length depends on a lot of variables. I use a kayak paddle because the mass produced double blades I could find for canoe were too long, klunky,heavy and too big a shaft diameter. What I don't need in long days on the Gulf of Mexico is extra weight to hold up.

Sit and switch is a reasonable alternative..but flying truly solo in big waters I just don't want to risk dropping my paddle during the switch.

thanks guys
appreciate the input, I am 5’ 9" and i paddle a Ranger Otter, about 3’ (35.75") @ middle, solo i paddle from the bow seat reverse style. don’t mind the J stroke method, am an old boyscout, or the switch even though it gets me wet too, not a big deal… I am gonna try the double blade, seems more consistent speed pos and tracking solo, esp if you all have been doing it so long. thanks

Try 230
With your added information, I change my guess of appropriate paddle length to 230 for initial trials. With a higher angle stroke (leftover from single blade days) this length should work. With a very low angle stroke (which my shoulder tells me to use) my Aleut, at about 240, works in the Rapidfire. If 230 is too short then try a 240. I keep a sponge on the bottom near the center and squeeze it out every 20 min. or so to minimize the collected water in the bottom from paddle drips.



There is one other consideration if you are getting older-my starting SS last Sept. told me I am in spite of my ego trying to tell me I’m still in my late 20s. A paddle with a slightly flexible shaft reduces the stress on the body in 4-6 hour paddles. There is no reason composite shafts can’t be made slightly flexible-I was a pole vault coach in a former life and those composite poles are engineered to really bend. While they may exist, I have yet to see (slightly) flexable shaft composite double blade paddles. Therefore, I make and buy wood shaft paddles and test them for flexibility. I put one tip on the ground and see if the shaft flexes slightly when I press on the center. If I want more flex I take out a spokeshave. Too much flex isn’t desirable, just a little in the shaft to reduce the stress on your body when paddling.



For the engineers who are reading this, no, I haven’t run experiments to prove this last assertion or define the exact amount of flex that is ideal. My consultant, a rebuilt right shoulder, collects and stores “data” on shoulder stress on every paddle and reviews this data on cumulative stress with me after every paddle.



Dave

dave
cool and thanks again… great info, i will put it to the best use poss. :wink: and ill start with the 230…