As an experiment, I held on to the side of the pool to see how much force was necessary to drive the bow underwater. Answer: LOTS! I basically have to do a full push-up (to minimize how much of the kayak must be driven underwater), then swing the bow underneath my body. It's a lot of work and very slow. And this is with the kayak at a full 90 degrees on edge, presenting the minimum cross-section to the surface. In other words, this is as easy as it can get.

There is NO WAY the paddle has enough buoyancy to provide the same platform as the side of the pool. So I can't see how a paddle can provide the same point of leverage. The force to drive the kayak under the water has to leverage from somewhere. Building up some speed would help, just like a bow stall, but that doesn't answer how people can get on end from a motionless position with a single stroke. Doing it at the side of the pool reveals the forces involved, and I just don't get it. When I get the paddle shaft level with the water, and commit, and get the kayak up to 90 degrees on edge - the paddle dives and I simply roll. The nose or tail get up _maybe_ 45 degrees, but that's it.

ARRRGGGH!

RLH