Paddle Length Preference
Moderators: kenneth, sbroam, TheKrikkitWars, Mike W., Sir Adam, KNeal, PAC, adamin
Paddle Length Preference
Ok, I am sure this has been hashed out, but my search turned up 1395 matches and none of them had anything to do with paddle length.
I use 50 or 51 inch bent shaft for flat water and a 54straight for recreational paddling. But, I am new to Whitewater Canoeing. I bought an Outrage from creek1r, and I have been using a 56inch BB Expedition Plus as it seemed to be the best ww paddle I own.
I am roughly 5'7" and 190 to 200 pounds with a 30 inch inseam. Basically short wide.
So this is a 2 part question. 1 what length would you recommend I look to try?
2 Simply out of curiosity, what length do you use.
I use 50 or 51 inch bent shaft for flat water and a 54straight for recreational paddling. But, I am new to Whitewater Canoeing. I bought an Outrage from creek1r, and I have been using a 56inch BB Expedition Plus as it seemed to be the best ww paddle I own.
I am roughly 5'7" and 190 to 200 pounds with a 30 inch inseam. Basically short wide.
So this is a 2 part question. 1 what length would you recommend I look to try?
2 Simply out of curiosity, what length do you use.
This is how someone told me to figure it out. When you sit in your boat on your saddle, the T grip should come to the top of your forhead while the blade is fully submerged. add or subtract an inch for personal taste. Seems to work for me. You can do it on dry land by sitting in the boat and inverting the paddle. T grip on the ground, throat at the top of your forhead. I'm 6'0'' 190lbs. My boat has a 8'' saddle. I use a 57.5" wood Mitchell with a curved blade.
-
- C Maven
- Posts: 1447
- Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 2:39 am
- Location: Northern California
I use 56/57 inches paddles, I'm 6'2". My werner Bandit, is 57" with a shaft of 37 1/2... My ZRE bent shaft, is 51 1/2 with a shaft of 33 3/4...
For my racing marathon bent shaft, I masure them like so, sitting on a chaire, I mesure frome the top of the chaire(inbetween my legs) to the about the tip of my nose(some go to the top lip of there mouth) and had the lenght of the blade and that give me the total lenght of the paddle.
For my WW paddle looks like i go to the top of my head...
A shorter paddle, allow you a higher stroke rate, and i find it easier on the shouldrs!
For my racing marathon bent shaft, I masure them like so, sitting on a chaire, I mesure frome the top of the chaire(inbetween my legs) to the about the tip of my nose(some go to the top lip of there mouth) and had the lenght of the blade and that give me the total lenght of the paddle.
For my WW paddle looks like i go to the top of my head...
A shorter paddle, allow you a higher stroke rate, and i find it easier on the shouldrs!
- sbroam
- CBoats.net Staff
- Posts: 3969
- Joined: Thu Nov 07, 2002 2:12 am
- Location: Lexington, SC
- Contact:
I'll chime in with a vote for shorter. I'm a little taller (same inseam, though) and paddle with sticks about 54" - easy cross strokes, maybe a higher stroke rate, possibly easier on the shoulders, etc, at any rate I'm used to it and like it.
C-Boats Moderator
http://picasaweb.google.com/scott.broam/CanoeOutfitting
http://picasaweb.google.com/scott.broam/CanoeOutfitting
- TheKrikkitWars
- CBoats.net Staff
- Posts: 1440
- Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:27 am
- Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- Contact:
I'm 6'3" and use between 52" and 58" paddles for various things*; my workday paddle and my split paddle are both around 54-55"; I'd encourage you to try shorter paddles, as a long blade can trip you up far more easily.
*(Short one for squirtboating on flatwater; two normal length paddles for everything; Long one for OC1 in deep water, slalom and WWR)
*(Short one for squirtboating on flatwater; two normal length paddles for everything; Long one for OC1 in deep water, slalom and WWR)
Joshua Kelly - "More George Smiley than James Bond"
CBoats Moderator - Not necessarily representing the CBoats staff though...(I'll use words like "moderator", "We" and "CBoats" to make it clear when I am)
CBoats Moderator - Not necessarily representing the CBoats staff though...(I'll use words like "moderator", "We" and "CBoats" to make it clear when I am)
Re: Paddle Length Preference
I must be a freak, I'm just over 6' & I like 59"-60" for open boat whitewater.
JD
- TheKrikkitWars
- CBoats.net Staff
- Posts: 1440
- Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:27 am
- Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- Contact:
Re: Paddle Length Preference
Well how deep is the water at your usual paddling destinations?eddyhops wrote:I must be a freak, I like 59"-60" for open boat whitewater.
Joshua Kelly - "More George Smiley than James Bond"
CBoats Moderator - Not necessarily representing the CBoats staff though...(I'll use words like "moderator", "We" and "CBoats" to make it clear when I am)
CBoats Moderator - Not necessarily representing the CBoats staff though...(I'll use words like "moderator", "We" and "CBoats" to make it clear when I am)
Im 6' and use a 60" for deapwater and 57 for creeking and E.L.F. runs.
usually have one as the back up on my deck, so can swap.
usually have one as the back up on my deck, so can swap.
Last edited by TonyB on Thu Apr 28, 2011 6:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Proud Yankee