Efficient Rowing Paddle for the Masses

(i) Project Background, Objective, Usage and Specialty: In the limelight of the spectacular London Olympics, one of the most popular events that were screened globally was the rowing event. Sadly, Malaysia didnt have a representative in this event which could have produced a gold medal, since Malaysia is almost totally surrounded by water and excellence in water runs through our veins since the time of our ancestors. There are several drawbacks which have become major deterrents for the popularization of rowing in Malaysia. Firstly, high-tech kayaks cost a small fortune with the cheapest costing roughly RM1200 to RM 1500. Secondly, there are several snags which ensue from the usage of abrasion resistant fabrics, fiberglass, Kevlar and carbon for the paddles which are expensive but dont last long because on impact, the elastic fibers stretch far from the point of impact and separate from the epoxy. This creates sizable scars (far larger than in e-glass) obscuring the wood completely. The material's claim to fame is also its 'abrasion resistance' which coincidentally makes the fuzzy surface very tough to sand and fair smooth. Last but not least, the fibers do not wet out as clear as fiberglass. Moreover, many of these cloths (with braided threads) soak-up monstrous amounts of resin. Unlike the straight strands of fiberglass, the twist of the fibers gives the cloth more 'thickness'. This allows the 4oz. fabric to swell and hold enough resin equivalents to 2 or 3 layers of 4oz. glass. Trying to squeeze the resin out with a squeegee as in fiber glassing just makes things worse by whipping in a lot of air bubbles obscuring the wood even further. Its this second problem that my team and I are trying to solve by designing a cheap yet efficient rowing paddle made out of wood which gives as much push and velocity as this high-tech equipment. Our creation is made out of wood which can be tailored to be water-resistant with a spring in the middle. The spring is the key component of our invention because it makes sure that the paddle constantly stays 90 degrees in water. This angle has been proven to give maximum push. This paddle will also be cheap and readily available to the public who just have to make a small investment in buying the boat instead of buying lightweight but expensive paddles which wear down at the same rate as our wood paddles. It may be said that our prototype is too heavy to be used competitively. That may be so, but heavier paddles give a more intensive workout compared to other paddles. Our invention may start of a fitness revolution in Malaysia by introducing rowing to the mainstream market who I am sure will take full advantage of this beneficial exercise. According to research

(ii)

Materials And Components:

Material

Size

plywood

Spring

(iii)

Tools: a) b) c)

(iv)

References: www.ocean-kayaks.com www.dupont.com Kunci Masteri Kemahiran Hidup Teknikal

(v)