C-Forum

Just wondering if anyone's had good experiences with the carbon Werner Bandit paddle. I have a fiberglass model and like it but I need to get a longer paddle. I will be using the paddle for some creeking. I've heard opposing views on whether fiberglass or carbon blades last longer. Also, if anyone paddles a Waterstick and likes it, let me know. Thanks

I have borrowed one from a friend that is fairly new (couldn't be more then a year or two) and it has considerable wear on it. I have been told by numerous people that the Bandit is notorius for this.

For a little more you can get a Galasport. Check with this representative, SPoberaj@aol.com

Chuck /Knoxville

ive had a bandit for a while 3 years, and its still running, but i try to use it in mainly deeper water for i know it will wear quickly. if youre bent on the shape, the carbon one last longer. other than that gala padddles are way bomber, and i have a magnum elite with the spoon shape. its a way better paddle, way stiffer, and it catches better.
but the werners for what theyre worth do hold up fairly decently.
cheers
-isaac

i know you were asking about the werner, but i would definately go with a galasport magnum.
i don't know about the carbon bandit. i have a glass bandit and i use to like it until i got a galsport magnum. i beat the crap out of both of them. the magnum is holding up a lot better. it's lighter, and (this is where i'll have to dissagree with bearboater, although.. he does have the elite, which might be stiff) it's got the perfect amount of flex, not a lot(like the demon), but you notice when you jab it into a rock with all your might. it absorbs the impact. this is a bigger deal than you might think and i can't really explain it , but at the end of the day you will know what i mean. great blade, great shaft.
the bandit feels too rigid to me. feels dead. feels like a club. and they do wear out fast. carbon would maybe be even more rigid. the glass ones ARE cheap though. can't say that about the gala...
i'm sure if you got the gala you would love it.

Thanks. I'll look into the Gala. My glass bandit shows a lot of wear on the side of the blade nearest the hull of my C1. I don't know how much performance, if any, is lost but it bothers me. If if were a straight blade at least I could flip it around to even out the wear. I bought a Lightning a few months ago and although it is noticeably heavier the blade shows little wear and it was fairly inexpensive. I'd like something with the weight of the bandit and a spoon blade, though. I'll look into the Galasport if they are light and durable.

the problem that developed with my bandit was the lack of stiffness in the balde, and lower shaft. I used it on a trip in the sub arctic, and that involved alot of banging it on rocks. most of my solo paddling began after that, and so maybe a glass bandit that didnt have 700 miles of shallow arctic paddling on it would be stiffer, but i found that the blade had too much flex to really crank out the power strokes. I think that the shaft on the gala is a little more comfortable and easy on thed shoulder, it feels a bit flexy when bracing, and when bounced off rocks.
both good sticks
cheers
-isaac

I looked up the Galasport "C1 Magnum Elite" on their website. Has anyone used this paddle? Also, there is a Magnum and a Magnum Elite. It looks as though the Elite has more carbon in the lay-up. Does this stiffen, strengthen or lighten the paddle? Also, does anyone know what the T-grips are like on these paddles........wood, I assume. What about cost? Any other info on these would be awesome. Thanks!!

Hello, i have owned a cheaper model of the galasport before and found it was very flexible, and the blade edges wore down quite easily, sometimes even chipping !!!

as for the werner, i havent owned one myself, but 2 people i have worked with both own bandits, they are light but quite flexible, and the shaft is quite large in order to acheive its strength. also the blade edges strip down like nobodies business.

i cant remember the price of those paddles but what ican offer you for advice is to buy a mitchell paddle, which i am a distributor of in canada, although will ship anywhere.

mitchell is a wood core blade, with full carbon overlay on the blade and a full carbon shaft, these paddles are amazimngly stiff and offer both an inlaid aluminum tip on the padle, to avoid chipping and corners rounding, and also a fibreglass roped edge which is also inlaid, they are beautiful paddles, i have paddled them very hard and they are dam tough!



email me if you have any questions
Jimmy MacDonald
backpackerjim@hotmail.com
http://www.mitchellpaddles.com

I use a Galasport 3M with a kevlar/carbon layup. It's about as stiff as a Mitchell all-carbon - or maybe with slightly more flex. The edges and tip have held up very well, as has my shoulder.

this is where i got my gala magnum. they told me the carbon aramid would wear more slowly than the carbon(elite). my take is.. the carbon elite is a little bit lighter, the carbon aramid is tougher, but still very light. i've got the carbon aramid version. i think bearboater has the elite.
the grips are basic wood dowel style. not curved like the bandit

confused yet? you should call them, they are very helpfull and much more expert than i am.


cze-can imports
(604)327-7989
www.galasportpaddles.com

I use car-door molding to protect the edges of my fiberglass bandit. It's a long u-shaped strip of plastic used to protect the edges of car doors; you can buy it at most auto parts stores. The molding only takes a few minutes to put on, and it usually lasts for several months of hard paddling before it needs to be replaced.

Without the molding, I'm sure I would have worn my Bandit down to the nub by now.

Some say that the molding changes the performance of the paddle, but I really don't notice any significant difference.

I have the magnum elite, and it barely shows any wear after a season of very shallow boating. there isnt much abraision at all, but as far as which lasts longer the elite, or the carbon aramid im not sure. unlike jpm370 said about chipping, i havent had any of that. though mine is the elite (carbon) , so that might be gthe case...
larry any chipping? i had a friend with one of the kayak paddles from them, and he did have a chip, but i think his wasnt a carbon or aramid or mix, im not sure what it was.
anyhow, i love the brand, and i ordered a new paddle the other day, for slalom.
cheers
-isaac

Since we are discussing Galasport paddles, we got a deal at GAF on Saturday. An ex Olympian was getting rid of about 10 of his used Galasports for $10-20 each. My son grabbed this one because they went in less than one minute.

The style we got was a carbon fiber aramid composite shaft and blade with a dowel handle. The blade is tipped in metal. The way the blade is made, there is a tendency for the composite to detach from the metal.THis is the case with the one we bought. However, the repair/ preventive measure are easily made with the correct epoxy material. THese paddle are do light. I am thinking that if you could just find something to dip the tips into occasionally to protect the tip that this would be the prevention of choice. Having said this, these are race paddles. They are not designed for much contact with rocks

The paddle that I bought from the representative I mentioned in the above post, is a composite blade, but the handle is black with a dowel t grip. If you contact this person, he can direct you to the paddle that best fits your needs. He is a coach for the US slalom team so he knows his stuff.

Now one more time for Bailey at Clinch River Paddles. IF you really need a creek paddle like I do, get a paddle from Bailey. He will maintain them for life. I use a 59" handle with a special blade that he designed for himself that basically cuts the corners out of the top half of the blade. I have considered a curved blade, but I think that this would present the problem with too much wear on one side.

Chuck/Knoxville

Does anybody have any experience with Robson paddles?