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advice needed on purchasing a canoe paddle
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 1:05 am
by murphy
Figuring out length, wood vs synthetic, blade types, uses are mostly white water and something also good to solo with. Thanks, Murphy..
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 12:10 pm
by Craig Smerda
Wood Shaft--has a little give, less likely to break, feels better
Carbon Curved Blade--once you've used one going back to a flat blade seems pointless.
Length--??? that's a question for the ages....
I prefer Clinch River or Mitchell.
Check the other posts via search on paddle(s) and you will find ton's of info.
Craig
paddles
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:52 pm
by billcanoes
Hi Murphy,
I'm 5'7, well almost, anyway I started off paddling black water rivers and other slow moving rivers and didn't have much need to make a lot of fast turns. I bought a 52" Bening branches wood explorer plus rock guard for an intro into white water. It is a nice paddle, and It comes in handy as my spare. The wood shaft for me is slippery when wet. I quickly moved to a 54" paddle and then to a 56" within a 3 month period. After a year, I'm debating between a 58" and 60". The longer shaft allows you to reach the farther towards the bow and stern allowing easier turns, and I think aids you in reaching over the gunwales for strokes. In shallow water you can lower your hands towards the blade to reduce some rock contact. Or you can just grab a shorter stick for bony runs. If you live near Charlotte NC I have lots of paddles you can try, Mitchell 56"(my favourite) -werner bandit 54 and nantahala 56" and AB 54"
Bill
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 11:02 pm
by yarnellboat
58" or 60" sounds like the long-end of the range for someone who's almost 5'7". I'm 5'9" and have 59" paddles, but I'm toying with moving down to 58" or 56" (for OC-1).
I'd use the longer paddles for ww tandem because I'm further from the water & gunwales and do more sweeps, slightly shorter for OC-1 for the off-side strokes, and would go shorter if C-1ing. But, as said, paddle length is an age-old debate. Most average people's paddles are in the range of 54 - 58".
The paddle link on this site, as well as earching posts, provides some good info. Realistically, a lot will depend on what's available/popular in your region, and, of course, what your budget is.
Pat.