proportions for Inuit style paddle

[coelacanth2]

As per my posts in the building/repair section, my son and I are finishing up a 12' double paddle canoe. He is 5' tall, weight of 140 or so, I'm 5'8" and go about 205. Depth of the canoe is appx 12", beam of appx. 26" at the paddler's position. Two questions - 1) would an Inuit style paddle be suitable for propulsion, and 2) if so, what proportions would suffice for each of us? Thanks for your help - I have a good stock of cedar, mahogany and loblolly available. Other paddle designs gratefully considered.

[ewan]

http://www.qajaqusa.org/QK/makegreen2.pdf
&
http://www.carvegp.com/

[DGentry]

A GP would work just fine, and they are fun and easy to make. I love my GPs!
But . . . in an open boat you are likely to get a whole lot of water dropped into your lap as it runs down the length of your paddle blade. Euro paddles with drip rings are pretty nice when you don't have a spray skirt!
It's easy to make a Euro paddle, too.

Dave

[George Roberts]

Considering that people paddle effectively with anything from standard length GPs down to storm GPs, it seems that the dimensions matter very little.

I suspect a person who is upside down in a kayak would prefer a paddle with dimensions that allow for a roll, but some peoples used to wait upside down for help to come.

[Todd Bradshaw]

Did you ever see that gizmo that had a snorkel mouthpiece and a hose that you stuck inside your spray skirt for breathing while upside down? I guess it was OK as long as you didn't have beans for lunch.....

[coelacanth2]

Thanks, folks!

[2MeterTroll]

general measurement for the ones i make are from tip of middle finger arm extended across the chest to other shoulder. blade length is from tip of finger to elbow.

carve the drip rings in. or work a turkshead round it.

[coelacanth2]

Double paddle is in the basement with a coat of epoxy hardening on it - I may leave it in the sun tomorrow to speed the process, after it's mostly set. It is made from some red cedar 1x4 i had lying around from when I made the boy's sandbox - 11 years ago. It soaked up quite a bit of the epoxy (MAS thin, with a slow hardener) which I hope will help preclude some of the dings. A scuff sand and a bit of varnish and I'll try her out. Thanks for the links and info!