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Sizing Greenland Paddles: Here you will find a rough guide for determining the measurements for your new Greenland style kayak paddle. Keep in mind that this is merely a guide and that, over the course of experimentation and trying different paddles, not to mention different sea kayaks, you will eventually form your own preferences as to blade width, loom length, overall paddle length etc. Changing blade widths and paddle lengths will alter your stroke rate, the amount of "bite" in your stroke etc. Generally, a higher stroke rate is much more efficient over the long run and is less fatiguing on the elbow, shoulder and wrist joints. A larger blade area will give you better acceleration but will be more tiring when doing longer distances. I encourage all paddlers to experiment whenever possible. Feel free to email me directly with your questions and I will offer whatever help that I can. Determining Blade Width To determine the width of your blades, you need to figure out the maximum width that you can comfortable hold in your hand, between the thumb and forefinger. For many Greenland strokes, you must be able to comfortably grip the paddle in your hand by the end of the blade for use in an extended paddle position. Most often, Greenland style paddles will come in widths of between 3 and 3 � inches. Loom Length The length of the loom of your Greenland paddle, the section of the paddle between the actual blades, where the paddle is gripped, is usually between 18" and 22" in width. Roughly speaking, it is determined by letting your arms hang to your sides and then raising your hands so that a 90 degree bend is formed at the elbows. You then measure to the inside of your hands, along the inside of the thumb/ forefinger. For wider sea kayaks, you may wish to go a little wider. Thickness/ Width of the Loom The loom of the paddle needs to fit comfortably within the grip of the paddlers hands�hence, a smaller loom for a smaller paddlers hands only makes sense. Alternatively, a larger paddler with big hands may want a slightly larger loom, to better fit the hands and to also provide more strength for that heavier and potentially more powerful paddler. In general, the looms on my paddles will be from 1" to 1 �" in width, usually closer to 1 1'8". Thickness is normally around 1 �" to 1 �" on the paddles I build. An oval shaped loom works best, fitting into the hands nicely and providing a good grip. The extra thickness adds to the strength of the paddle while the thinner width helps keep the weight down and in giving a more comfortable grip. Length There are a couple of general guidelines for determining your paddle length. One is to stand on the ground and raise one arm overhead. Measure the distance from the ground to where your fingers can comfortably wrap around over the top of the upper blade. Another method is to measure your arm span and then add the distance from the inside of your elbow joint to the tips of your fingers. This will give you a good estimation of your paddle length. Shorter paddlers in wider boats may choose a slightly longer paddle. Also, a taller paddler will often go with a shorter paddle than what would be determined by these methods�afterall, how many of you paddle standing up? Paddling style will also effect what length to choose. A low angle paddler for example would use a longer paddle than would a high angle paddler. Feel free to experiment but keep in mind, the trend has been moving towards a shorter paddle. Email me with any questions and I'd be happy to help in any way that I can. [email protected] |
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