Bent vs Straight Shaft for Tandem?

I recently got a Penebscot 16 and tend to paddle tandem with my younger sibling(s) in front. Any advice on straight vs bent shaft and for which position? We are typically paddling mainly flatwater on the Susquehanna

Greetings, my advice for anyone new to paddling would be to start out with a straight shaft. They are typically longer and will give you more leverage to help control the boat with your younger siblings in front.

The other night I bumped into a neighbor out on the water. He is not a skilled paddler and uses a bent shaft. I was surprised to see that after a number of years he is still holding his paddle backwards. With a straight shaft all you need to know is which end goes in the water.

I grew up on the Susquehanna in Wilkes Barre, where are you?

I'm along the West Branch - grew up in Curwensville! I'm not new to paddling, just to tandem canoeing and trying to sort out what might be best before I invest too much money into new paddles. Thanks!

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Paddlers can use straight or bent shafts either solo or tandem.

As background re which type of paddle you might want to use tandem, there are two different stroke techniques to keep tandem canoes going straight instead of yawing away from the stern paddler's side: (1) single-sided correction technique and (2) hit & switch technique (AKA sit & switch or Minnesota switch).

In single-sided correction, each paddler paddles on only one side of the canoe with the stern paddler mainly in charge of providing a correction stroke—usually a J stroke—to keep the canoe going straight. While either straight or bent shaft paddles can be used, I would recommend straight paddles for beginning or intermediate tandem paddlers. Straight paddles are more effective for J strokes than bent paddles, and they are also more effective for draw strokes, pry strokes and bracing strokes.

In switch paddling, no correction strokes are used. Both paddlers just power ahead with uncorrected forward strokes. To prevent the canoe from yawing away from the stern paddler's side, the stern paddler calls "hut" every four to six strokes, at which time both paddlers switch paddling sides. And on and on and on. The constant switching keeps the canoe going straight without the need for correction strokes. Switch paddling is much easier with short, light bent shaft paddles, which can more easily clear the gunwales during an aerial hand switch than longer straight paddles can.

All flat water racers use the switch technique with bent shaft paddles. Most recreational paddlers use single-sided correction technique. Of course, you can switch sides occasionally using single-sided correction, just to change muscle groups, if the stern (or solo) paddler is adept at using the J or other correction strokes on either side of the canoe.

You didn't mention whether you sit or kneel. You can apply more power at the beginning of the stroke from a kneeling position so in my experience bent shafts with a traditional 12 degree angle have minimal benefits over straight. For sitting paddlers bents give a little more efficiency at the expense of control and although skilled paddlers can control a boat easily with bent shafts I think it's more enjoyable (aesthetically pleasing) to control a boat with a straight shaft I'd recommend straight shafts for both bow and stern and if you decide to go bent I'd suggest you get bent for both bow and stern.

I kneel and often use a 6 degree bent shaft which is a nice compromise for me.

Penobscot 16 is a fine boat, congrats.

I personally like bent shaft in the bow straight shaft in the stern. Sorry if thats "tmi" for this site haha.