A "Tail" of Two Otters?

I'm planning on making myself a paddle over the Winter and I'm interested in an otter tail, but I have noticed that there are two distinct designs, both labeled as "otter tail" online. One is notciably wider near the top, like an actual otter's tail. The other is more elliptical, with the wide point much closer to the center with more gently curved sides and a less pointy end.

My goal is a paddle for relaxed, steady paddling on flat water. I'll add that I occasionally get rotator cuff pain in my right shoulder, so far it's only while bench pressing and I'm seeing a doctor soon but I really would prefer to be easy on my shoulders. Quieter is also preferred. Is either one of these a distinctly better design for my goals?


Here is an example of the more top heavy, real-life otter tail design



Here is the more elliptical shape

I personally find the more elliptical shape more pleasing to my eye. Make both, see which one suits your expectations of what a good paddle should do. I keep thinking I would like an otter blade but I love the Maine Guide style so much that I wouldn’t be as be able to change my ways.
Let us know what what you decide.

I made a couple of beaver tail paddles, a few months ago. I thought they were more work on me moving them through the water, so I cut one down similar to an Otter tail shape. It is much easier and pleasing to paddle with, and is just as efficient.
I'm going to cut the one on the right down to a similar shape.
Roy

Your comparison of two similar paddles (ottertail and voayageur) remind me of this excellent blog post :

I've carved a few ottertails and voyagers. The curved side ottertail with a slightly rounded tip is superior. The entry is quieter and the paddle stroke is smoother. I really like the ottertails that I've made, and find the voyageurs second rate and not worth the time.
The voyager with its straight edges is an easier paddle to knock out, if one was making a lot of them for a bunch of voyageurs.
The HH paddle is not an ottertail. I've carved a few in that shape as well - beavertail.
I paddle solo most of the time and a beavertail has more oomph for a j-stroke.

The second that you posted looks more like a beavertail to me. The ones I made using Warren & Gidmark's plans (well, the middle 3 were their plans) are shown below


The Cherry paddle (2nd from left) is their Ottertail and I found it to be quiter than the 2 beavertails to the right of it and it might be easier to paddle with all day if all other things were equal. Both beavertails were lighter due to the wood species used and I prefer them to the Cherry.

I'd advise making both but, if you really want to do a fair comparison, use the same species / layup. (I'd bet you'll like whichever is lighter)

Concur with Gamma, the pics look like an Ottertail and a Beavertail