The BETTER PADDLE

The Better Paddle prototype.
  Bill Demler has some large, fast R/C model boats, but when they quit in the
middle of a park lake, he has to paddle out to them.  No outboards allowed.
  When using two oars in a raft or rowboat, you go backwards! When using a
single paddle in a canoe, each stroke turns the canoe slightly.  Double-ended
paddles used with kayaks turn you less because the other-side stroke can be
done quicker.
  The Better Paddle allows you to face the way you are going and to go
straight by using both paddles together. Put only one paddle in the water to
turn.
The paddle disassembled takes little space.
This final Better Paddle is the correct width.
A hand-cranked "eggbeater outboard".
  This hand-cranked prop drive pulls instead of the usual outboard's pushing.
It works surprisingly well, but your cranking arm tires quickly.  Best to
chuck the prop shaft in a battery drill (one that can turn counterclockwise).
Bill trying out the eggbeater outboard.
  He is moving toward the camera. A discarded fertilzer spreader was salvaged
and found to have steel-hard plastic bevel gears of 64:14 (4.6:1) ratio.  The
old grease was cleaned off using gasoline and a toothbrush (never, ever do
that!) and new grease applied. ("Do as I say, not as I do.")
The gears from the fertilizer spreader.
  The prop shaft is 1/4" stainless.  The prop is a Minn Kota MKP-2.