Abstract: A kayak paddle with a generally straight shaft that is preferably about 0.7 inches in diameter, the shaft is also conically tapered at either end. A left hand grip and a right hand grip are mounted on the shaft, and there is a blade at either end of the shaft. The blades each have a conically tapered socket to accept the tapered ends of the shaft. A portion of the socket remains vacant when the shaft is fully inserted, the vacant portion of the socket serves to trap sufficient air to ensure that the paddle will float. The mechanical connections thus formed prevent the shaft from rotating in the blade sockets and also minimize the amount of stress placed on the adhesive used to fix the shaft in the sockets. The grips ensure that the user's hands can be consistently placed and oriented on the shaft; because of the small diameter of the shaft, the user's hands can easily encircle the grips, and the user is thereby afforded a high degree of control over the paddle.

Abstract: An improved paddle for use with shallow draft watercraft, including kayaks, canoes, rafts, and the like, having a paddle blade with surface topography for geometrically channeling water across the surface of the blade when in use so as to reduce user fatigue and increase efficiency. A second embodiment of said paddle incorporates a crooked loom to increase leverage applied to said paddle blade by altering the stroke force from 90 degrees to 45 degrees.

Abstract: An improved propulsion apparatus for use in propelling shallow draft watercraft and adaptable for use as either an oar or a paddle, said apparatus comprising at least one split blade. The split blade has a front and at least one back blade section, each of which has surface topography on its working surface comprising channel dividers and fluted channels defined thereby for channeling water across the front surfaces of the front and back blade sections of the blade when in use. The paddle may be either single or double-bladed, suitable, e.g., for canoeing or kayaking, respectively. A second embodiment is adapted for use as an oar. In either embodiment, the front and back blade sections are preferably conjoined to form an oblique opening the two sections for advantageously channeling water.

Abstract: An improved paddle floatation apparatus comprising a unitary inflatable sleeve that fits over a kayak or other shallow draft watercraft paddle blade. When installed on a paddle blade, the entire paddle may be configured as an outrigger to assist the user in righting the kayak and reentering the cockpit from the water. The shape of the float when inflated is substantially triangular when viewed on end and includes numerous stabilizing surfaces that engage the water to resist unintentional movement in every direction.

Abstract: An oar handle is used in sweep rowing. Sweep rowing is when a single oar is pulled by both hands of a single rower. The oar handle has a support which at one end can be secured to the end of the shaft of a sweep rowing oar. A handle bar having a pair of hand grips at its opposite ends is mounted at its center to the opposite end of the support. The handle bar is mounted to the support so that it is free to rotate on the support about a pivot point in the center of the handle bar. The pivot point is aligned with the central axis of the support. When the oar handle is mounted on the shaft of an oar with its central axis in alignment with the central axis of the oar, the pivot point is likewise aligned with the central axis of the oar. In use, a rower grips each one of the hand grips with one of his hands. As the rower pulls the oar, the handle bar rotates relative to the central axis of the oar, allowing the rower to pull equally with both of his arms and his body.

Abstract: The invention is an ergonomic canoe paddle. The paddle includes a shaft having a shear side and an opposed drag side, a blade having a shear surface and an opposed drag surface, wherein the blade is secured to a bottom end of the shaft so that the shear surface of the blade is secured to the shear side of the shaft and the drag surface of the blade is secured to the drag side of the shaft, and a handle secured to a top end of the shaft. The handle includes a central grip bar secured to the top end of the shaft, a right grip stem and a left grip stem secured to opposed ends of the grip bar. The right and left grip stems extend away from the shaft in a direction that is both about twenty degrees from a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft, and that is also away from the drag side of the shaft about sixty-five degrees from a plane roughly parallel to the shear surface of the blade.

Abstract: A hand operated boat propulsion device (paddle or oar) that may also be used to draw and spray water. The device may also be used as an air pump.

Abstract: There is provided a kit for forming an adjustable paddle which, in kayak embodiment, includes a first paddle end and a second paddle end each having a blade an a shaft, an intermediate connecting shaft telescopically engaging the shafts of the paddle ends, with the intermediate connecting shaft having indicating means for indicating the center of gravity and distance indicating means, along with means for fixedly securing the shaft and second shaft through the intermediate connecting shaft. The arrangement ensures that a properly balanced paddle is obtained. An optional handle may be provided for converting the kayak paddle to one or more canoe paddles.

Abstract: A modular, gas-driven power distribution system includes a gasoline-operated module delivering power to a connector having a rotatable element enabling a plurality of mechanical devices to be detachably coupled to the connector to receive power through the rotatable element. The plurality of connectable devices includes a powered oar adapted for nautical purposes. The oar preferably comprises a shaft having a proximal end adapted for detachable coupling to the connector forming part of the gasoline-operated module, and a distal end transitioning into a paddle shape terminating in a rotating prop. A rotatable axle is disposed centrally within the shaft, the axle having a proximal end adapted for detachable coupling to the rotatable element to deliver power to the rotating prop.

Abstract: This aquatic sporting device can be used by paddlers of water crafts or boats to paddle their craft or alternately use their paddles as quick-action squirt guns or water cannons with high range and high water exchange rate. The ridged paddle is transformed into a squirt gun by hand turning a nut on the paddle shaft to free the movement of a piston within the paddle shaft, inserting the bottom end of the paddle into the water and then pulling on the paddle handle to draw a central piston several feet out of the outer paddle shaft thereby creating a suction which draws water into the paddle shaft through a nozzle at the bottom end of the paddle blade. The paddle is lifted out of the water and pointed toward the target then the handle is pushed causing the piston to forcefully squirt the water, within the paddle shafts' water chamber, out of the nozzle. The squirt gun can be switched back to paddle mode by pushing the piston back into the outer shaft and re-tightening the central nut.

Abstract: An improved kayak paddle for recreational or competitive paddling, which has handles affixed perpendicular to the shaft or shafts, which handles rotate on axles as the paddle is used, to reduce twisting of the wrists and other joints of the paddler and improve efficiency and comfort. The shape of the paddle blades is such that water falls off the corner of the blades and does not run down the shaft to wet the hands of the paddler.

Abstract: A paddle for use with a hand and forearm of a user is provided. The paddle has a paddle blade of a length shorter than its width, and generally encompasses an area approximating the span of the hand of a user. A support which provides support for the wrist extends from the paddle blade to a point near a user's elbow, with an opening in the support through which a user inserts a hand. A cover surrounds the hand and secures the paddle blade to the user's hand. As such, the user may rest an opened hand against the blade while using the paddle.

Abstract: A kayak paddle with a hollow wooden shaft featuring reduced weight and improved strength. The shaft is formed from lineal segments which run the entire length of the paddle shaft and are joined to form a closed shaft structure. A helical twist can be introduced in the shaft to establish desired paddle "feather." The hollow shaft can be formed having a closed cell foam core wrapped with a reinforcing cloth, such as fiberglass to further increase the strength of the shaft.

Abstract: A paddle for watercraft is provided which has an elongate shaft on which is provided a handle. A blade is in fixed relation with the paddle handle and defines blade edges and opposed blade sides. A lateral force transmitting steering rib projects from one of the blade side faces and is oriented in substantially normal relation therewith. The lateral force transmitting steering rib extends from the free terminal end of the paddle blade, opposite the connection of the handle with the blade and extends along the longitudinal axis of the blade a distance of from about one-third of the length of the blade to about one-half of the length of the blade. The lateral force transmitting steering rib may extend along the entire length of the paddle blade if desired.

Abstract: An ergonomically improved kayak paddle and a method for making the same is provided which improves the overall strength of the paddle while substantially reducing hand and arm fatigue for a user. The kayak paddle utilizes non-concentric gripping regions between a substantially longitudinal shaft and paddle blade sections. The gripping regions are interconnected to the shaft at non-abrupt predetermined angles of curvature and in a geometric configuration which reduces structural stress and fatigue at critical portions of the paddle while allowing a paddler to orient the paddle by touch alone.

Abstract: This one-handed canoe paddle is comprised of a blade portion, a hand grip portion, and an arm cuff portion. The hand grip is integral with the blade and is at an angle to the centerline of the paddle approximating the angle which a closed hand makes with the centerline of the forearm when the hand and forearm are in alignment. The arm cuff is U-shaped, positioned perpendicular to the plane of the paddle, and connected to the paddle by a shaft that is of a piece with the blade portion and offset of the centerline of the paddle. The angled hand grip being integral with the blade, the connecting shaft being offset, and the uniquely positioned arm cuff taken together create an aggregate design which:permits quick, easy access to the paddle;lets the paddle be picked up and used with one hand;provides the leverage necessary to propel the canoe in any direction without changing grip position;allows the wrist to be held in a neutral position during use of the paddle; andproduces an esthetically pleasing unit.

Abstract: An inflatable boat comprises an inflatable body, at least one inflatable wing member and at least one holding device. The inflatable wing member is attached onto the inflatable body, while the holding device is connected to the inflatable wing member. Furthermore, the inflatable wing member has a rowing plate on which at least one check valve is provided. The inflatable boat can go ahead on a surface of water when the inflatable wing member is pulled by the holding device to paddle the water.

Abstract: A water walking device consisting of a pair of hulls with footwells, and a pair of stocks. A water surface blade at the rear of the hull is formed in a concave shape pointing towards the front of the hull. The underwater blade at the rear of the vertical stabilizer fin, is formed in a fan shape towards the rear of the vertical stabilizer fin, and the rear surface of said underwater blade is formed in a concave shape pointing to the forward part of the vertical stabilizer fin. The blade sections on the stock consist of the blade body formed in a rim shape, and vanes formed on the lower part of this blade body. A plurality of these vanes form a radial pattern, at fixed intervals, centering around the shaft of the stock.

Abstract: A more efficient paddle construction having a blade and a stem extending there from and wherein the blade has a rippled like surface which are latitudinally running wave like curled fins. This arrangement is such that there is a greater resistance to the flow of water up and around the blade when the paddle is being drawn in a scooping propelling stroke.

Abstract: A grip for a sculling oar having an elongated elastic tubular body with a truncated elliptical profile or shape. The tubular body has an open end for receiving an oar handle and an opposite closed end with a thumb depression contoured into the outer surface of the closed end. A plurality of contiguous finger grooves are formed circumferentially along the outer surface of the tubular body. The grooves extend diagonally across the elliptical portion of the body. An alignment mark is scribed on the truncated portion of the tubular body near the open end. The alignment mark is aligned with the convex face of the blade of the order to facilitate the rowing action.

Abstract: A paddle for a narrow canoe or kayak-type boat has a crossbar the end portions of which extend downwardly to create an inverted U-shape, with the blades being at the lower ends of U. Handgrips, preferably including either forearm rests or wrist rests for the tops of the forearms or wrists as well as handgrips, enable the user to operate the paddle in a broad sweeping motion, with both blades being inserted into the water and pulled back simultaneously, eliminating the yaw effect of either double-ended kayak paddles or single-bladed canoe paddles.

Abstract: A swimming aid includes a paddle with two blades for alternating arm strokes and a vertical blade attached to both feet for side to side leg motion in cooperation with the arm strokes. The two paddle blades are at opposite ends of a hand held shaft. Each blade has a rigid leading edge and a flexible following portion. When pushed forward, the blade lies in a plane for minimal hydrodynamic resistance. When pulled backward on a power stroke, the following portion bends out of the plane, creating increased hydrodynamic resistance for enhanced forward propulsion. This pulling action causes the legs to move laterally, alternating from side to side as the arm strokes alternate. A vertical blade has a narrow anterior portion with foot pockets for both feet side by side. The blade is widest at its trailing edge which may be forked and acts like a fish tail fin forcing the body forward. The propulsion is provided by the torso muscles moving the legs side to side not by leg muscles kicking as in swim fins.

Abstract: Disclosed is a combination oar and bilge pump which serves as an oar when the apparatus is in a locked first position and when in an un-locked second position becomes a bilge pump by plunging a second tube member having a plunger on its inner end, inward and outward of a first tube member which acts as a gripping surface.

Abstract: An oar stop sound dampener which minimizes the sound produced during the rowing of a boat. It is composed of a flexible, solid, closed-cell foam and is placed on the shaft of the oar adjacent to the oar stop on the side toward the paddle. The dampener is a disk having an aperture at its center to accommodate the shaft of the oar and having a segment adjacent to such aperture which segment can be removed from the disk to provide space for the elongated member some oar stops have extending along the shaft of the oar toward the paddle. By keeping the oar stop, which is usually metal, from contacting the oar lock, which is customarily also metal, through the location of the disk and its resistance to compression, and because of the flexible nature of the disk, no discernible sound is produced during rowing; and wear of the oar stop and oar lock is minimized.

Abstract: The device is an alternative to the conventional paddle or oars, and comprises a collapsible scoop and a handle-shaft. The scoop has top and bottom panels 14,16, hinged together along one edge 18, and side-panels. The side-panels 20 are foldable, and allow the scoop to open and close. When the handle is pushed, the scoop opens out by the action of hydrodynamic forces; when pulled, the scoop collapses. The scoop is made from a one-piece blank cut from stiff plastic sheet. The hinges are formed by locally creasing the plastic material.

Abstract: A combination paddle, hook and pump is disclosed wherein the hook is located at one end of the paddle and is contoured to permit smooth paddling action by the paddle. The hook can be rotated from a closed, non-hooking position to an open, hooking position and has a pair of openings therein to permit the pump to either pump air or water into an object or to pump a fluid such as water from a source of the fluid. The paddle comprises a dielectric material that contains metal particles to reflect a radar beam thereby permitting a boater using the paddle in a raised position to be spotted by radar.

Abstract: A paddle-fish landing net combination which includes a hollow paddle-shaped housing having a handle opening in an upper side thereof, and a net opening in its opposite, lower side. An elongated handle extends slidably through the handle opening and has an inner end inside the housing. A fish landing net is attached to the handle inner end and nests within the housing when the handle is fully extended upwardly from the housing. The fish landing net moves into an expanded, fish netting position outside the housing when the handle is slidingly pushed into the housing.

Abstract: An improved paddle assembly and flotation device for use by a swimmer to assist in propelling the swimmer through the water. The paddle assembly is of the type which has a central float and a pair of paddles supported by a rod extending outwardly from the float. The improvement of the present invention comprises a hollow, rigid thermoplastic ball having two openings and a hollow tube passed through the two openings and affixed to the openings in a watertight manner. Then, a rigid tube extends through the hollow tube, and the rigid tube extends outwardly and is affixed to a pair of paddles at each end of the rigid tube. Preferably, there are two or more handles affixed between the thermoplastic ball and the paddles.

Abstract: An improved storage container for a lifesaving device is provided herein. Such storage container includes the combination of an oar or paddle, the upper end of which is hollowed-out, to give a pocket of sufficient dimension to accommodate an inflatable lifesaving device which is in deflated form, e.g., an inflatable life jacket or life raft which is in deflated form. A quickly- and easily-removable cap is provided at the inboard end of the hollowed-out pocket to retain such lifesaving device therewithin.

Abstract: An aquatic sporting device, designed for use with one arm, is formed of three removably attached sections including a paddle blade, a forearm brace, and an elongate longitudinal shaft between the blade and brace. The brace is offset both longitudinally and transversely from a proximal end of the shaft, to permit placement of the brace against the forearm at the elbow, yet permit full bending of the arm at the elbow. A hand gripping area is provided along the shaft, and enables selective gripping along the shaft length to facilitate positioning of the elbow with respect to the brace for maximum paddling leverage, regardless of the size of the forearm. When removed from one another, the sections can be conveniently stored or transported. The removable mounting further permits substitution of other working implements, such as a fish net or gaff hook, in lieu of the paddle blade.

Abstract: A golf club includes a grip, shaft, and head. Within the shaft is disposed a spiral groove in which is disposed a coiled spring formed of a shape-memorizing alloy. Epoxy resin fills the groove and overlies the spring. The spring increases the strength of the shaft.

Abstract: An oar includes a blade portion, a loom including a grip, and a connecting member for connecting the blade portion and the loom together. The blade portion includes a frame and two blades. The frame includes two parallel vertical plates, a front plate, a top plate, a bottom plate and an open rear side defined by the vertical plates, the top plate and the bottom plate. A rectangular slot is formed between each blade and the front plate. A protrusion is formed on a top edge and a bottom edge of each blade. The blades are pivotally restrained in the rectangular slots with the protrusions engaging with corresponding holes formed on the top plate and bottom plate of the frame.

Abstract: A resin and transfer molding technique is used to fabricate, in a unitary fashion, a synthetic oar that has as a core, polyurethane and a longitudinal rigid rectangular spline preferably sitka spruce which transverses orthogonally and extends along the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the oar, the shaft handle therefore and opposite paddle end being unitarily molded according to the resin transfer molding technique. Prior to such molding a green oar substructure is made of the shaft and handle on the one hand, and the paddle on the other hand where a multi-layer wrap of synthetic material is formed over the spline in relation to the shaft and in the paddle mold in relation to the paddle and the cavities are cores thereof filled with green polyurethane. The two components so formed, being the green paddle, and the green shaft, are merged together and further wraps of synthetic material overlaid.

Abstract: An oar and oarlock arrangement comprising, in combination: a handle loom and a structurally separate blade loom having a hydrofoil blade mounted to its outermost end, the handle loom and blade loom being hinged for sweep action about a rockable oarlock. The handle and blade looms are interconnected by a motion reversing linkage such as a pair of gears, for example. A feathering linkage is provided between the main frame of the oarlock and the hydrofoil blade for changing the angle of attack of the blade in the water.

Abstract: An emergency paddle kit for sailboards is disclosed. The kit comprises at least one shaft which has a paddle blade attached to one end, which shaft is releasably attached to the boom of a sailboard. When the sail of the sailboard is not used to propel the sailboard through the water, the shaft may be released from the boom and the paddle may be used to propel the sailboard through the water. The emergency kit may further comprise a second shaft which has a second paddle blade attached to one end, which second shaft is also releasably attached to the boom of the sailboard. The first and second shafts may be connected together to form a kayak-type paddle which may then be utilized to propel the sailboard through the water. The emergency kit may further comprise a number of attachments, such as shaft extensions and a paddle handle which may be attached to the shaft and/or to each other.

Abstract: The subject pole is used to help propel a person on ski floats or water walkers. Each pole comprises a shaft with a hand grip at the top end and, in order from the bottom end: a small float, a propulsion apparatus and a larger float. The floats are bodies of revolution. The propulsion apparatus is a shell of revolution with a semi-elliptical shape and the long axis of the ellipse coincident with the longitudinal axis of the shaft and the open face of the shell facing the bottom end of the pole. The shell is slotted in four places to form four petals. The ends of the petals are interconnected by a garter spring. Also each petal is connected by two ties to a flange on the small float. In use the pole is moved fore and aft in alternate thrust and return strokes. It is at an angle to the water surface with the grip end higher and planes on the water surface in the return strokes and submerges to a depth limited by the buoyancy of the larger float on the thrust strokes.

Abstract: A rowing apparatus comprising, in combination: a boat having a hull with fore and aft ends and having an outrigger projecting laterally outwards from each side of the hull and at least two oars located one on each side of the hull, each of the oars comprising an L shaped oarloom including two legs joined at an elbow, one of the legs constituting a handle loom having a generally athwartship position at mid-stroke and the other leg constituting a blade loom laying generally fore and aft to the boat hull at mid-stroke and having an outer end. A blade having a hydrofoil shaped surface is mounted to and below the outer end of each blade loom, the blade lying in a generally vertical plane which at mid-stroke is located at a divergent angle with respect to the plane of the blade mounted to the oarloom on the opposite side of the hull.The rowing apparatus further includes a seat for the oarsman which is movably mounted to the hull and foot restraints for securing the feet of the oarsman.

Abstract: A rowing apparatus comprising, in combination: a boat having a hull with fore and aft ends and an outrigger frame movably mounted onto the hull and having opposite ends projecting laterally outwards from each side of the hull. The apparatus further includes at least two oars located one on each side of the hull, each of the oars comprising an L shaped oarloom including two legs joined at an elbow, one of the legs constituting a handle loom having a generally athwartship position at mid-stroke and the other of the legs constituting a blade loom lying generally fore and aft to the boat hull at mid-stroke and having an outer end. A sweep hinge member is mounted onto each opposite end of the outrigger frame and is adapted to rotate about a substantially vertical axis, the sweep hinge member including an oarlock frame adapted to mate with the L shaped oarloom of one of the oars at about the elbow.

Abstract: A flat rigid rectangular plate has four corners bent down to form rigid V-shaped points to grip on an ice surface. The plate is larger than an adult hand and serves as a hand-held paddle in water. A longer spike or triangular point extends away from the plate at a right angle to the V-shaped points for gripping an ice surface through a snow cover. A handle extending from the top of the plate maybe equipped with a safety cord to loop over the wrist of the user. The handle may be permanently upright or foldable.

Abstract: A high-efficiency paddle construction having a blade and a stem extending therefrom, and wherein the blade has a pair of opposite, longitudinally extending edges, with flanges extending along the edges. The arrangement is such that there is provided resistance to flow past the side edges when the paddle is being used. There is thus realized improved efficiency, with a consequent reduction in the efford required by the user.

Abstract: A manually powered pair of crank operated flat paddles used by a swimmer combines a rotary and paddling motion. One paddle is rotated to engage the water while the opposite paddle is disengaged and provides flotation only. The opposite paddle is then rotated to engage the water while the first paddle is disengaged. This apparatus combines support with propulsion to assist the beginning swimmer. The motion of the swimmer's arms using this device mimics a normal swimming stroke and aids the learning process.

Abstract: An adjustable paddle (A) is disclosed which includes an adjustable joint (C) which allows for two handle sections (14, 16) to be fitted together in a desired axial and rotational positions to fix the length of paddle (A) and the relative blade angle settings of blades (18, 20). The adjustable joint includes three concentric shafts (22, 24, 28; and 62, 64, 66) to provide a more rigid joint which is generally wobble-free. Preferably, the concentric shafts are fixed together by a compression lock (30). The compression lock includes an annular compression member (32) and beveled edges (38, 58, 70) affixed on the first handle section and a complimentary beveled surface (34a) on compression nut (34). Tightening of the compression nut forces compression member (32) about the shaft of the second handle section to fit the handle sections together in the desired axial and rotational position. Additionally, a cam lock (26) may also be utilized to alternately lock the handle sections together.

Abstract: A propulsion device for small craft having a shaft, a flexible bag on the shaft at one end, the bag having a larger end which is open and a smaller end with a water flow opening, a cross member extending transversely of the shaft and across the larger bag end, and a spreader device to spread the bag.

Abstract: Equipment for towless skiing on water surface includes a pair of propulsion sticks having buoyant members at one end and handles at the other end. The buoyant members provide increased thrust against the hydrodynamic resistance of the water, and the shape of the buoyant members permits removal of the buoyant members from the water with little resistance. The equipment also includes a pair of skis comprised of foam material and provided with stabilizing shoulders on both sides of each ski for minimizing the effect of nose diving and rolling of the skis in the surf. The cross-sectional areas of the buoyant members and of the skis are such that maximum propulsion forces are provided. The skis are designed to endow the surf skier with a greater degree of freedom during surf skiing and to enable the skier to ski for longer distances on the water.

Abstract: A knock-down boat assembly comprises bow, mid and stern water-tight transverse hull sections, each having fore and aft ends, concave side walls and a transverse bulkhead at the aft end of the bow section, at the fore and aft ends of the mid section and at the fore end of the stern section. The stern section is nestable in the mid-section and the bow section is nestable in the stern section when in the knock-down configuration. The forward bulkhead of the stern section is secured in a position butting against the aft bulkhead of the mid-section and the aft bulkhead of the bow section is secured in a position butting against the fore bulkhead of the mid-section when the boat is assembled for sailing.

Abstract: The present invention improves the efficiency of high performance rowing in shells. The oarsman faces forwards and uses "L" shaped oars with hydrofoil blades. The conventional handle loom section ends at the "L" at the outboard end of the usual outrigger. The "L" is supported by a special oarlock pivoted in the usual manner outboard by the outrigger. The blade loom section of the oar trails the oarlock and carries at its aft end a downwards projecting hydrofoil blade which is angled diverging forwards relative to the opposite blade. A teter pivot, horizontal in the oarlock, is angled to generally bisect the right angle of the "L" and supports of offset center of gravity of the "L" shaped oar. This pivot provides for raising and lowering the blade to the water by the handle in the conventional manner. The action of the hydrofoil blades in the water is to swing laterally outwards during the power stroke and to be raised from the water on the return stroke.

Abstract: A blade (9) for a paddle intended for paddling a canoe or corresponding water-craft, which paddle comprises a paddle shaft and a blade arranged on at least one end of the paddle shaft and intended to be inserted fully or partially into the water with the main-extension plane of the blade located substantially transversally to the longitudinal axis of the canoe or like watercraft during a so-called paddle stroke for forward propulsion of the canoe, where the one side (12") of the blade, which is intended to face forwards relative to the intended direction of travel, the front face (12") of the blade, is curved.

Abstract: A handle for attachment to the shaft of a paddle to improve the efficiency and comfort of paddling. The handle having a grip portion and spaced outwardly extending arms on the grip portion. The arms are coupled to the paddle shaft so that the handle is swingable about the paddle shaft and positioned at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Abstract: An improved paddle for canoe or kayak recreational or competitive paddling incorporates crossbar structure formed such that when incorporated either with a single blade canoe paddle or with a double blade kayak paddle both hands grip available crossbars when stroking on either side of the canoe or kayak.

Abstract: The oar disclosed herein is re-enforce by a stay which is anchored at both ends of the oar shaft and is supported near the oar lock location by a brace. The two points, where the stay emanates from the oar shaft, lie in the same plane as a set of points at the tip of the brace. The points, that define the aforementioned plane may be aligned to form a triangle. The triangle is assigned a vertex near the tip of the brace. When the oar blade is normal to the water surface during an oar stroke, the vertex of the aforementioned triangle points downwardly with respect to the force direction of the blade in the water. The stroke forces thereby produce a moment that tends to unfeather the oar blade. The unfeathering of the oar blade must be arrested by an oar lock as soon as the blade surface becomes normal to the water surface.