Paddle length study

[Larry Horne]

height 6'0"
inseam 32"

wheelboy 5.5" saddle -- 55"
slalom boat 4.5" (ouch) --57"
burn 6" saddle --57"

[Paddle Power]

The wheelboy is new and I am just getting used to it. I also have two new ash paddle blanks, any suggestions on how long my new paddles should be in order to best fit my new C1 play boat

Driftwood, Try about 2" shorter for your C1 paddle, say 54" but...

try to demo a few paddle lengths before using up one of your blanks.

[boatbuster]

Boats:
Mad River Outrage
Savage Superfly
Phantom
Overflow X C-1

Paddler: 6 feet (actually 5'11 3/4" after compressing vertebra) 180 lbs. inseam 32"

Paddle: 60-nch Perception Horizon Line, )but I have worn at least 1 inch off the end, so 59") Need a new one.

,

[ezwater]

INSEAM? Our legs are inside of our boats. The most relevant body parameters are length from hip joint to shoulder joint, and arm length.

I am 6' 5" in height, but relatively short in the leg and long in the torso. My arms are fairly long.

So it should surprise no one that I use a 61.5 inch Mitchell, not at ALL long for what I need to do. (Check the "Looks Slow Even Sitting Still" photo for the Dagger Zealot.) For open boating, I use a 62" Clinch River with a similar blade to the Mitchell.

[Kelly-Rand]

Boats:

Atom, Viper, C1's
Berry, Patriot, C2's

Saddles: 6" to 7"
Blade: 58"

Boater:
6'4" Hgt
36" arm
36" leg
Right handed paddle left.

Jim Kelly-Rand

[old and in the way]

OK, my turn.

Height - 6-0
Inseam - 32
Arm - 36

Boats: Nereus (slalom C-1), Wide Ride (cruiser C-1), Hooter (OC-1), Hackman (Slalom C-2)

Seats are anywhere from 7-10 inches, dpending on the boat.

Always used a paddle around 57 inches for everything.

[Marc Evans]

This is getting interesting.

I'm 6'4" with a 36" inseam.

Boats are an MR Outrage with a 9" saddle and a Fink with an 8" saddle.

Switched from an old style 60" Werner paddle to a homemade 56" carbon paddle and like the shorter one a lot more - Don't seam to whack the bow as often when crossing to my offside.

Marc

[Mike W.]

What's really neat about this thread is the list of boats There sure are some cool ones listed

I'm 5'7" w/ 30" inseam.

I used to use a 57" Mitchell, but it was hurting my old, feeble shoulders. I ordered a new 54" & feel much better now.

I use 54" Galasport & Mitchells in my Acrobat, Viper, Big EZ, & Forplay C-1's. I also used the 54" in my Sequel OC. My saddles are 8 to 9.5" high.

For flatwater I use a 52" Zaveral bent shaft in my Wenonah Marthon.

For downriver racing I use a 52" Zaveral outrigger paddle.

[John Coraor]

Height: 5'8"
Inseam: 31"
Decked boat paddle: 144 cm (56.75")
Open boat paddle: 151 cm (59.5")

My start in decked c-boats was in C-2, where a slightly shorter paddle is typical. Having kept the same stick when switching to C-1, I probably paddle with one a tad shorter than C-1 paddlers of similar height.

To add my two cents to this dicussion: As blade length varies with the style and manufacturer, it is more important to know the shaft length than the overall paddle length (shaft + blade). As most paddlers bury their entire blade, no matter what its length, the shaft length, rather than overall length, is what should generally be kept constant when using a new paddle with a different blade length.

John

[Paddle Power]

Yes, lots of variables to paddle length.

In response to ezwater

INSEAM? Our legs are inside of our boats. The most relevant body parameters are length from hip joint to shoulder joint, and arm length.

I think paddlers don't know upper body measurements but they do know their inseam, so take the inseam away to get upper body measurements.

[Mr.DeadLegs]

6'7" tall
36 inseam
37 arms


Big open boats

Encore and ME

Big paddle

Werner 62"

Big toys for Big boys

I seem to sink most small boats at 250lbs

[Bruce Farrenkopf]

5' 9" tall
Inseam: 31"
I paddle a Finkenmeister, Lizard, Frachella Viper, Extrabat, and a Wheelboy.
Pedestal height is usually 6"
I use a 58" paddle in all of them. I have used a 55, 56, 57 & 58" for years at a time and prefer the longer paddle.

It does seem long relative to other C1ers . Hmmmm.

SYOTR,
Bruce

[bearboater]

I like long paddles. i tihnk it helps me keep my back straighter when I really hammer, canted forward, and so that my form is better. but it is slower, until you get used to it. it just takes a while to get that shoulder loose enough to where you can get it that high, and keep it that high.
Skaal
-Isaac

[Tiggy]

I see your paddle is longer than mine! Let's fight!

[John Coraor]

In "To Win the Worlds" Bill Endicott reported that all three of the top C-1 slalom finishers in 1979 paddled with a 59" paddle (Jon Lugbill - 5'9", Davey Hearn - 5'10", Bumbo Robison - 6'2"). I don't know if those preferred paddle lengths changed any later in their careers. In "The Ultimate Run" he mentions that C-2 paddlers tend to paddle with slightly shorter paddles than C-1 paddlers.

I don't have any information on paddle length for more recent top C-1 racers.

John