Sorry about the above post, my phone and the awful internet here don't get along together.
Plus even worst phone coverage.
Anyway we get something the locals call a Qualicum wind over here.
It sounds as nasty as what you get there.
They can develop in minutes and minutes later it's beautiful again.
Like I mentioned earlier, i am just too lazy to beautify my paddles.
Which probably isn't bad when you consider this is the worst of it.
I actually made this paddle with a true 1x4 and didn't want to remove anything more than I had too.
I couldn't get a knot free board either.
However I had fun experimenting with it.
It's my belief that the Greenlanders didn't just have a single paddle design.
They would have refined the shape based on the wood available and also the conditions.
Crossing open water and they would have used something longer, and more efficient like you mentioned.
While close to the hunting grounds, something more quiet.
So this was my attempt at making the paddle more quiet by rounding the leading edge more.
It honestly works to a point, however it somehow puts far more strain on my shoulders

Plus with the thinner board I couldn't eliminate a hotspot on my hands.
So it's now just my spare paddle