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BENT SHAFT CANOE PADDLES
 NEW ! from Bear Mountain Boat Shop
These gorgeous paddles are truly complementary to a nicely made wood
strip-epoxy canoe.
Why
a Bent Shaft Paddle?
Aesthetics and Physics: Somehow, a graphite paddle does seem out of place
in a crafted canoe made of wood. These paddles truly fit in because they
are beautiful in themselves and beautiful wall art in your home or chalet.
But, the main reason is that a canoe moves forward most efficiently when
the blade is perpendicular to the water and covers a stroke distance of
about 30 inches. With a 14 degree bend, this perpendicular attitude is
easiest to maintain with a Bent Shaft.
At 15 ounces, this paddle is much lighter than a traditional paddle of
ash or cherry and, if one paddles at an average of 50 strokes per minute
that is 3000 per hour and a lot more by the end of the day-much easier
on the shoulder muscles. If you have a good J-stroke, the bent shaft paddle
will make the “J” easier.
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 How to select a Bent Shaft Length
These paddles are definitely shorter than the traditional straight blade.
Typically, a paddler who is 6 feet tall would most likely use a 62 inch
paddle; however, in a bent shaft, that same paddler would be using a 51
inch paddle.
All the blades are 8” x 20” and the overall lengths available
range from 48” to 56”.
Sit on a flat, hard surface—look straight forward without any tilt
to your head. Have someone measure the vertical distance from the BRIDGE
of your nose to that flat surface. Add that to the 20” of blade
and you will have a workable length. However, this length can be altered
to make your paddle 1” longer or shorter to accommodate varying
canoe depths, position of seat below the inner gunwale and, whether one
sits or kneels to paddle. The overall length of the paddle is measured
over the back curve and not the vertical drop from the grip to the floor.
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Available Colours and Patterns
Every paddle
is unique which is a reflection of the many variations in the colour and
grain of wood such as western red cedar. So, choose one of:
 (a) dark overall colour
(b) light overall colour
(c) paddle with a chevron pattern on the blade
(d) All paddle blades have a protective edge which is a “rope”
of 18 ounce fibreglass cloth and resin the shaped to a smooth edge.
The only other option is to have a standing loon silk screened on your
paddle. The paddles can be shipped either one or two to a carton and are
sent by a courier service.
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Price
Any of the lengths (48 to 56”) any colour pattern as described:
$ 245.00
Silk screened loon:
add $15.00
Shipping varies with location. |
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