C-Forum

Wondering if my paddle is too long. I'm 5ft 11 and am using a 58'', same as for OC. How short should one go?

thx OC

It all depends...

I use a 58 for OC1 (I'm 5' 10")
and a 56 for C1.

My OC1 saddle is taller than my C1 saddle.

Plus, in the C1 I like fast strokes.
I tried out 54" in a short loose C1 (it was a WS T2) and it was excellent.
I also use an bent/ergo shaft that is 54". With ergo shaft you can use a short paddle.

Hope this helps.

I'm 5'11" and use a 58" for OC tripping and solo... right now i don't have another paddle for C1'ing, but I've used a few 54" blades and really enjoy that length for being lower. I doubt I would go shorter, but a 56" for that extra reach in running stuff might be nice... If you just playing on waves and holes a shorter blade is prolly the way to go.

I did a search on paddles and there are a couple threads on the lenght issue.

Here is one of them.....
http://cboats.net/cforum/viewtopic.php? ... ght=paddle

As to what is the proper lenght - my thought is that this is a very subjective issue with most of it being a personal preference kind of thing. A lot depends on your style of paddling, boat type, paddle design and material and water being run.

Maybe paddles are like boats in that you can never have too many of them! .

I know this really doesn't help a lot so I'll suggest you borrow everyone you can get your hands on to see what you like.

PS: Right now I'm using a 55" spoon blade in play boats (an inch longer from my prior stick) & my height 5'8"!

I'm about 5'10". I've always used a 58" for OC (my saddle is about 9"), and also have a 57" that I like. I don't really notice the difference between 57" and 58".

58" definitely felt long & awkward in C-1, when you're right there at the water and in a lower saddle, especially for going offside.

For C-1 I liked a 55" and may try as short as 54".

I may even try some shorter paddles, maybe 56", in my open boat.

P.

I'm 5'8" and use a 144cm (56 3/4") paddle in C-1 and 151cm (59.5") in an open boat. However, overall height is not as important as where you carry it (i.e. people of different heights and leg lengths may measure the same from the waist up, which is what matters in canoeing). Also overall paddle length will vary depending upon blade shape and size. What you really need to measure is shaft length to avoid variance with different blades.

I would expect that changing from open boat to C-1 you would want to use a different length paddle to compensate for the change in seat height.

John

OK, I don't have a number. But this is what you do:

sit in your boat (slight forward lean and all that...).
Now go into a forward stroke position. Your upper arm (grip arm) should be
more or less horizontal. Now your shaft length is the length from your hand to the water surface. You add the blade length to that and get the total length.

Naturally this length depends on the saddle height and your proportions.

When you have this length, you can vary it a little bit to find the length
you like.

I like 53 inch best right now with the saddle height being 4.5 inch and the blade is 19 inch long. Good manufacturers should give you the blade dimensions.

Cheers, Jan

I like Jan's answer and I used something like that when first sizing for OC1 (based on an article in Rapid I think). Shaft hand just below the gunwale, grip hand at shoulder height. What's really important isn't the paddle length though, but the shaft length (atleast that's my opinion, but it will depend on the blade design). I just went from using a 56" Mitchell paddle for OC1 (Detonator, 10" saddle - COMFY!) to using a 57" Echo in my Zoom (8-9" saddle). For my C1s (Groove and Master-cut Acrobat) I have much lower saddles, 4.5-5" in the Acrobat, 6" (I think) in the Groove. I use a 54-55" Galasport in those boats. I found it awkward recently moving to the longer OC paddle, but have now adjusted. I found initially it caused extra strain on my shoulders, but I don't notice it now. That's also what I noticed in the C1s though using the longer paddle - it was harder on the shoulders and I kept tripping up on the extra length.
Oh, I'm 5'10"
Cheers
Matt

Long paddles can give you a longer lever arm (if you use it). That can be good (more power from the stroke) or bad (more forces applied to your arms and shoulders).

I am 6' tall and usually use a 58" paddle in C-1 and a 60" paddle in the OC.

If only...

I would have realized that a shorter paddle for OC1 would actually be great. 58.5" for me at 5-10" equaled AC osteoarthritis.

Shorter (57) was better and worked fine. Perhaps paddle length may never affect many paddlers as we all react differently to all things. But, if you can be happier a bit shorter, give your top hand shoulder a break.

dana

Thanks for all the messages-

Tried a 56 inch paddle for C1 (instead of 58) WAAY BETTER, and cleared up all the arm soreness.

The 58 is just the right length for me in OC. I think the 56 is perfect for C1 for river running, could go 1-2 inches shorter for just playboating.

So any of you who have paddlers elbow, may be because your paddle is a little too long...