I finished my GP, gave it a wax job and took it along with the Expedition to the water and gave it a try. This was the first time I've ever paddled with a stick and I'd have to say that I was very impressed. I had been a little concerned about the amount of flex in the paddle, but that turned out to be nothing to worry about. In fact, what little flex actually happens, might be a plus; it gives a little kick at the end of the stroke.

I found paddling with the GP encourages torso rotation and a few other things that relate to what I've come to think is proper form. I settled on just a little less than 1 1/2" for the diameter of the shaft. It does increase the weight a little, but I think it is worth it for the more relaxed grip.

The paddle seemed to work great at every angle, except for maybe extreme high angle (verticle), because of drips. This might be fine for keeping one cool on a hot day, but I normally don't go verticle except on a banzai charge. At lesser angles the drips were of little consequence.

The first couple of strokes from a standing start are not as effective as a euro blade, but once you're moving, any disadvantage disappears.

I guess I should have moderated my enthusiasm for the new blade, because I overdid it a little. The tide was running right, so I went with it and decided to do a 25 miler (round trip). The whole trip went very well until I got back to the launch site and got out of the boat. I then realized I was completely out of gas. It took every ounce I had left to carry the boat to the trailer and drive home.

Sounds like a GREAT paddle (both the GP and the trip)!

deb

Magooch, best wishes with the GP. A year from now, let us know if you're still using it. In my case, after trying the New (really the Old) religion of the GP, I went back years ago to the Old (really the New) religion of the Europaddle. Players love the GP; Explorers still end up plying the 'glass spoons.

My first impressions of the GP is that it is easier on the arms and shoulders and it moves the boat along very well, but I don't think I would ever leave shore with just the GP on board. I want one of my euros on the back deck in case things get real bumpy.

The GP does grab the attention of other paddlers. I'm afraid I might have offended a fellow paddler the other day when I finished that first outing with the GP. This fellow came over to me as I was off-loading some of the junk I carry along on the boat. He was curious about the paddle and I'm afraid my answers were rather terse, since I was feeling more like I should find a place to pass out for a while. I hope I see this guy again, so I can apologize for being so short with him.

I had to do a little touch up on the paddle, so it will be out of commission for a few days. I want to try it out on the Sirocco.

We've got a lot of Qajak USA members and other heavy-duty devotees of Inuit/Greenland boats, paddles, gear here on the East Coast, so the sight of a skinny stick is no big deal in these parts.

I went back to my favorite euro yesterday and I noticed immediately how much more strain there is on my arms and shoulders. The grip on the euro didn't even feel right to me for awhile.

I'm starting to think about building another GP, but not before some more testing with the first one. I wish I knew what the thinking is with the different shapes.

Several years ago I tried a GP and now the only time I use a Euro style paddle is in the creeks. I have had some long days with with my GP ( 40+ miles ) and loved the fact that they do not work you as hard as a Euro paddle. Bad weather has not been a problem as I have been able to keep a constant and steady pace for a longer period of time with the GP.

There is a some good Info at http://www.qajaqusa.org on GP paddles.

I just ordered one from http://www.tuktupaddles.com/

I can't wait to try it out!

It's always exciting to try out a new toy. My GP taught me a couple of lessons that probably wouldn't have occured to me without it. I have found one particular lesson useful with my Euros. I'm not going to say what it is, because I don't want to embarass myself.

oh come on, what is it???

Well, okay. Most of my Euro paddles have a grip area where one naturally tends to hold the paddle. The GP paddle doesn't have a specific hand location, so one day when I was paddling along, the wind and current were creating a situation where the kayak I was in was wanting to pull to the right. For a while I edged the boat a bit to keep it on course, but as that got tiresome, it dawned on me to slide the paddle to my right a couple of inches to lengthen the leverage on that side. It worked and I was able to maintain my cadence and equal effort on both sides of the boat. No corrective strokes were required and any edging was minimalized.

I made a mental note to myself to use that same technique when using a Euro under the same circumstances. It works.

There; do you see what I mean about embarassing myself? It shouldn't take years of paddling and a GP paddle to figure that out, but it did. On one of my paddles--a Werner--there is no particular grip location. I guess that should have given me a clue. I don't use that paddle much, so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Actually that's a nice bit of wisdom to pass along....my straight Camano would be the same.....they rented me an ergonomic Werner and I hated it....

My GP is on the way, it was shipped today to Montreal from New Jersey.....going to be interesting learning to roll all over again!

I received my GP last week from Tuktu Paddles in New Jersey, USA. Took it out for an hour or so Friday night and then for a couple of hours Saturday morning. I really enjoyed using it! I have used a Euro paddle for almost twenty years, much of that white water kayaking, and since I started sea kayaking about a month ago have abandoned a feathered setup in favor of unfeathered.
I definitely enjoyed how the GP goes in the water at once when my hand approaches the water, and the blade works for me the whole paddle stroke. I like the slight spring when it exits the water, and I like the little bit of flex I get as well. My arms and shoulders weren't tired...although I only went about 5 kms and there was little wind either paddle.

I also liked how holding the blade could make for a very powerful sweep stroke!

My Sunday morning paddle was in more challenging wind and wave conditions, so I went with what I knew...a feathered Euro.
I actually appreciated my Euro more, after having paddled with the GP.

I'll have to train myself on the GP when I am in a friendly situation, i.e. next spring at the lake, when I can run my rolls on both sides and braces etc.

Anyway, I am glad I got the GP, it definitely expands my range of useful tools for this awesome hobby!

With summer over, I probably will have a little more time to spend in the shop, so maybe I'll get around to building another GP. I've studied a lot more pictures, so my next one will be somewhat different than the first, but it will be the same length.

Lately, I've switched back to my favorite Euro, but when I go for any distance, I carry the GP on the rear deck. My wife made a nice bag for it and it provokes questions about "what's in the bag?"

qajaqusa.org has a link or two on building a GP.

I've been using a carbon GP for the past summer that I picked-up on e-bay as a factory second. People have told me it looks like one manufactured by Superior.

The last time I used my euro paddle I got a case of tennis elbow. Never had that happen with my GP.

I'm a convert to the GP. But I wont dis the euro blade, as I think for every reason their is a season.

For more novice paddlers, a euro blade is easier to keep up to speed with a group. For more experienced paddlers, a GP will radically change your stroke from what one might be used to with a euro.

Once used to the GP, you realize you dont lose ANY real bracing power. You simply convert to using more skulling braces. Take yours out, and compare rolling with a euro and a greenland... no real difference... if anything the GP is much easier on the body.

I paddle around 100+ days a season, and often end up suffering repetative strain injuries by the end of it (with a euro blade), such as tendonitis in the wrists, and bursitis in the shoulder. This is even with a very low-angle stroke designed for touring. This last 100+ days with the greenland have caused me no pain. I feel better than I have for years.

Decided to try GP this year due to a rotator cuff sprain which bit me in early spring (non-paddling in origin, too, bummer).

I wanted a very light, multi-wood panel take-apart paddle w. a carbon ferrule. Beyond my skill to make so I relied on the excellent craftsmanship of Ed Drieger of Talon Woodworks in North Bay, Ontario. At his shop they build custom paddles & boats. Ed was A+ to work w. with his own experienced design plus being receptive to my ideas.

He delivered a 78" paddle, soft shouldered, 17" loom, 3" blade, with a core of white ash (strength) wrapped w. western red cedar (save weight, add flex) tipped w. cherry. Cherry cuz I liked the wood. this met my criteria to go a little shorter to be friendly to my height, shoulder span, very small mitts, & mate well w. my low profile, 20" beam seakayaks.

Add Carbon ferrule & tung oil finish. Total weight 25 oz so very close to my 23 oz 210 cm Werner Cyprus. It was like Xmas in July when the paddle arrived & the next day it got wet.

I spent a few weeks letting the stick teach me intuitively. It's very friendly to use and stroke control is great. You do have to really bury it to get the max effect. It's definitely shoulder friendly and less fatiguing overall.

Then I took a class at GLSKA - Grand Marais in July so had to unlearn a couple newly minted bad habits... but I still prefer to paddle at a little higher angle than the instructors taught... but it's all good.

I like each paddle for what it will do and will keep using both. The Euro, for me, is superior on river routes, accelerating and getting thru what occasional surf I deal with. FWIW the take apart greenlenad is very convenient to store in my vehicle, fits in the paddle bag, and makes a very low profile on the foredeck when it's serving as my spare.

magooch, just to throw this out there - you may want to consider storing your spare paddle up front:

- easier to switch paddles since each piece is in front of you
- if it's behind you it can come off and float away without
your knowing
- it will keep the back deck clear for
rescues - your own or helping someone else.

Really good discussion all.

Katabatic, thanks, but I'll carry my spare on the back deck. There is virtually no way my spare could go adrift unless the very stout bungies break. It would be very awkward on the front.

One thing I've learned about myself from trying different paddles and modes and that is to do everything in moderation. Maybe especially when powering up with a high angle. I seldom go all out anymore and I haven't had any shoulder, or any other issues for a long time. I'm even back to doing full pushups and other exercises that I couldn't do for a couple of years, because of stains and pains.

I finished building another GP paddle, but I haven't applied the finish yet. I'm kind of anxious to try this one out, so I'll be starting the finishing process today.

I built this one with a red cedar core and I used poplar for the blades. Why poplar? Well I found a board out in the shed and thought it would be light and strong enough. I also thought the red cedar would be lighter than the Tennessee Cedar that I've used before. I made the loom, or handle area of the new paddle, hollow, but it still feels a little heavier than I thought it would.

The blades are just a litte wider and I left the core a little thicker down the blades to make it a bit stiffer. I don't think there's going to be much flex in this one. Don't know if that will be better, or not.

I'm anxious to see if the slightly wider blades will make a bow rudder feasible. I'll probably use this new stick mostly on the Expedition where a bow rudder stoke is sometimes useful.

I took the newly completed and finished GP out for its first trial, yesterday. It works. Thats about as much as I can say about it so far. It has way less flex than my other GP and that's about all I can say about that. Don't know if that will prove to be better, or not.

Not having drip rings, the GP is wetter, but mainly only when doing maneuvering strokes.

I didn't have my GPS along, so I wasn't able to check the cruising and all out speeds, but I will say that it seemed to me that compared to a euro blade, the GP requires more effort to attain similar results. For maneuvering, especially in applying a bow rudder, or reverse bow sweep, the GP is no match for my favorite spoon.

The river was as flat as a mountain lake yesterday and I was able to determine from the bow wake that the euro is much more efficient. More testing will be in order, but my conclusion so far is that a stick is a nice diversion and conversation piece and they might also in fact be easier on the old body, but in the end, they are not going to fully replace a great euro.