Paddle Length Preference

TonyB · Post by **TonyB** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 6:38 pm

eddyhops wrote:
TonyB wrote:Im 6' and use a 60" for deapwater and 67 for creeking and E.L.F. runs.

usually have one as the back up on my deck, so can swap.
WOW!

I'm assuming there's a six where there shouldn't be??

picky picky

Larry Horne · Post by **Larry Horne** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 6:41 pm

I think a longer paddle offers more leverage.

A shorter paddle might be more comfortable because you don't need to hold your top arm so high. At least that's my experience.

I used to use three diffent lengths as well, but now i just use one paddle for evertything. Less to think about.

I didn't know that some use long paddles so they can stick them deeper in the water

TonyB · Post by **TonyB** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 7:00 pm

Larry Horne wrote:I think a longer paddle offers more leverage.

I didn't know that some use long paddles so they can stick them deeper in the water

I use a shorter paddle so I dont have to crane my T arm up in the shallower areas.

fleckbass · Post by **fleckbass** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 7:14 pm

I've grown acustomed to a 56". Tried a 58" once and it felt too long. I think shorter is better for cross strokes and the shoulder. I'm looking to move to wood to help further with the joints. Oh, 6' 200 lbs.

Larry Horne · Post by **Larry Horne** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 7:43 pm

TonyB wrote:
Larry Horne wrote:I think a longer paddle offers more leverage.

I didn't know that some use long paddles so they can stick them deeper in the water
I use a shorter paddle so I dont have to crane my T arm up in the shallower areas.

btw...

means that I'm just kidding around.

ezwater · Post by **ezwater** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:03 pm

I'm as bad a klutz as anyone, but I can work cross strokes as fast as I need to, whether in c-1 or in my 17" deep Big Boy. I also have no difficulty raising my paddle to accomodate shallow water.

But when I try to use a short paddle, it feels like I have to bend way over and reach to the water.

I'm curious..... are today's c-1 slalom paddlers using much shorter paddles? Endicott wrote that Lugbill and Hearn were using 59" slalom paddles, and they're way shorter than I am.

The other limitation of short paddles is reduced reach and leverage.

Long ago, when "high fidelity" was developed, someone did a study of the effect of frequency range on subjective preference. What they found was that people preferred what they were used to, not what was actually high fidelity.

But, if after a proper trial with a long paddle, one finds that a shorter one stirs one's pot better, de gustibus non disputandum est.

edg · Post by **edg** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:21 pm

It does appear that today's racers are using shorter paddles. This link
http://www.canoeicf.com/icf/WorldClassC ... -Book.html has Endicott's case studies. The link to "Case Study Intros" gives his chart of old school height/weight/paddle length and today's comparisons. For me, at 5'8" on a "tall" day, I started with a 58" and have gone down to a 56". But I'm old and have to battle a desk these days....edg

Lappie · Post by **Lappie** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 11:06 pm

I think that total hight in my case 6'2", as not much to do with your paddle lenght, but I think that your torso lenght as much more to do with the paddle lenght. Next time that you have a bunch of friends sitting around a table you will probably notice that at that table, people are almost all the same hight... but when standing, thay could be a lot of differences in hight!! Just a thought!

coloradopaddler · Post by **coloradopaddler** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:41 am

i'm 6'1", about 170 lbs. and use a variety of different paddles depending on the boat. apparently i like relatively long paddles too. i use a 56" in my c-1s and a 58" or predominately a 60" in my open boats. today i used a 58" in my test run of the prelude and it felt right.

FullGnarlzOC · Post by **FullGnarlzOC** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 7:59 pm

bkebs - I use a AquaBound Edges(carbon) for $90. You can get breakdowns for $130(good to have). '56 inch for creeking/shallow stuff, '58 when its better to have power.

I'm 5'8 @ 180lbs.

TNbound · Post by **TNbound** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:30 pm

I think Bailey said it well when I was down there last. A shorter paddle will be easier to move around, but a longer paddle will be able to provide more power and reach. The reach is very nice when you don't quite make it to that last chance eddy. With a little extra reach from your paddle you can hang right on to it and pivot in, even if your boat is still in the main flow.

Like everyone says though, comes down to preference.
For what it is worth, I have a 59" paddler that I use for everything. I suppose a little shorter would be nice for c1 playboating, but as a poor college kid.... well, you get the picture.