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Old 16th February 2012, 05:24 PM   #1
fearn
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Getting back to the issue of standing while paddling, I'm looking at Stand-up paddleboarding as a western analog. The major advantage seems to be that you're higher off the water, so you can see further. You can also see down into the water, which might be useful for things like spearfishing.

Because you're higher off the water, stand-up paddling also seems to be confined to relatively calm waters. There's an exhibit at the Field Museum where they show a number of Oceanic paddles, from standing paddles to deep-water paddles, with the statement that you can see the influence of the environment on paddle shape. Examples include having a flat tip on the paddle so that you can pole with it, having the long handle and small blade of a stand-up paddle (for calm waters), and so forth. Unfortunately, I've been unable to find a picture of that exhibit online.

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F
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Old 17th February 2012, 06:56 AM   #2
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THIS IS A VERY ATTRACTIVE CLUB AND WOULD FUNCTION AS CLUB, SWORD OR SHORT SPEAR, IT WOULD MAKE A VERY POOR PADDLE.
I SUSPECT FROM THE CARVING ON THE CLUB BUTT IT WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR FIGHTING WITH BOTH ENDS AS SOME ARE BUT HAS A DISTINCT GRIP AND STRIKING AREA. MOSTLY USED FOR CEREMONIES OR DANCEING STORIES THESE DAYS AS FIGHTING IS LESS COMMON. BUT IT WAS NOT VERY LONG AGO WHEN THESE WERE STILL USED FREQUENTLY. I LIKE THE DESIGN YOU HAVE BEEN GETTING SOME GOOD ITEMS LATELY. HMMM!! THE FORCE IS STRONG IN THIS ONE

THE GREAT WHITE IS THE ONLY SHARK KNOWN TO STICK ITS HEAD OUT OF THE WATER TO ATTACK. THIS BEHAVIOR EVOLVED THRU THEM HUNTING SEALS, WALRUS, ELEPHANT SEALS ,ECT. I GUESS THEY OCCASIONALY WOULD LOOK ON THE ROCKS AND PERHAPS SNATCH ONE COMING OR GOING OR TOO NEAR THE WATER?? THE GREAT WHITE COMES FROM BELOW FAST AND TAKES A BIG BITE AND LETS GO AND THEN USUALLY WAITS FOR ITS VICTUM TO BLEED TO DEATH AND THEN COMES IN TO FINISH DINNER. IT HAS LESS CHANCE OF GETTING HURT THAT WAY, IF SOMEONE IS NOT THERE TO RESCUE A WOUNDED HUMAN THEY JUST DISSAPEAR I DOUBT IF THE WAY WE TASTE HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS.
I UNDERSTAND THE ENTHUSIASM OF OUR MEMBER FOR A GOOD ADVENTURE STORY AS I ENJOY A GOOD ADVENTURE STORY EVEN IF THE FACTS ARE FAR FETCHED IN ORDER TO MAKE A GOOD STORY.
BUT WE CAN'T TELL THE TALE HERE AS THEN WE WOULD WANDER TOO FAR FROM THE DISCUSSION AT HAND WHICH IS ON A CLUB NOT ON PADDELING OR MAN EATING SHARKS, CROCS AND GATORS.
I HOPE HE IS NOT DISCOURAGED BY THE TIME OUT AND DOES RETURN AND I HOPE I DON'T JOIN HIS TIME OUT FOR GETTING FAR OFF TOPIC AS WELL
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Old 18th February 2012, 02:18 PM   #3
David
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fearn
Getting back to the issue of standing while paddling, I'm looking at Stand-up paddleboarding as a western analog. The major advantage seems to be that you're higher off the water, so you can see further. You can also see down into the water, which might be useful for things like spearfishing.

Because you're higher off the water, stand-up paddling also seems to be confined to relatively calm waters. There's an exhibit at the Field Museum where they show a number of Oceanic paddles, from standing paddles to deep-water paddles, with the statement that you can see the influence of the environment on paddle shape. Examples include having a flat tip on the paddle so that you can pole with it, having the long handle and small blade of a stand-up paddle (for calm waters), and so forth. Unfortunately, I've been unable to find a picture of that exhibit online.

Best,

F
Fearn, i think you are on to the real reason for the standing positions with this. I also did a bit of on-line reading that talks about the extra rowing power that you get from this position. These boats must move rather quickly through the water with all these standing rowers applying all that extra upper body strengths that can be applied from this position over a seated one.
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Old 18th February 2012, 04:06 PM   #4
tribalarms
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Paddling standing up in Congo up allows for better sight, which is essential for survival (driftwood, hippos, etc) and also allows a less wide canoe (better speed, less weight than the big dugouts used for transportation of goods).

It also makes it easier to navigate thru dense vegetation and swamps by occasional poling.

For Sepik, I don't know - how is their waters?
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