West Side Boat Shop - Choosing the Correct Paddle

The Correct Paddle

Once you've selected the correct boat for your application, a proper paddle is needed to make paddling enjoyable. A paddle too long or not designed for your use makes paddling a chore.

Almost all types of paddles are available in a variety of materials and material combinations. There are kevlar or fiberglass blades on PVC coated aluminum shafts, wooden shafts or pole vaulting shafts-for maximum strength. There are all wood paddles. There is debate regarding which material/material combination is best for individual applications. Synthetic paddles do not require any maintenance. However, if made with a hollow shaft, paddling in cold weather or cold water can cause your hands to become so cold that it is difficult to hold the paddle. Wooden shafts seem to offer the best solution to this problem. Wood paddles do need some care. If one is careful, by refraining from tossing the paddle up on the bank, dropping it in the parking lot, etc., a once or twice a year overhaul with sandpaper and varnish is sufficient. The type of material you choose for your paddle is a matter of personal preference.

Most paddlers today have offset blades, i.e. the blades are set at 60-70 degrees or less to each other on the shaft. Blades which are not offset catch the wind and do not perform as well as offset blades. With this offset, it is necessary to feather, or turn the shaft with your hand and wrist. Feathering is done with the right hand if it is a right control paddle or with the left if it is a left control paddle. It is recommended for a variety of reasons.

Right control paddles are more easily available, which allows you to replace a paddle or purchase a spare quickly. Most left controls are special orders. The majority of paddlers use right control so a spare paddle on a river trip will more likely be right control. Should a left handed paddler break a paddle, it may be impossible to finish the trip without experience using a right control paddle.

Paddle length is the next consideration. This depends on a variety of factors. While a person's overall height is important, other points have a greater influence on this decision. The most accurate method used is a combination of a person's height, weight, shoulder height above the water surface and boat design.

Sitting in the boat while it is in the water, the height of the shoulder above the water surface is the most important variable and differs from person to person, boat design to boat design. Consider the example: Person A and Person B are both 6' tall, weigh 150lbs. and paddle the same boat, indicating the use of the same length paddle. However, Person A has a 29" inseam and Person B, a 34" inseam; consequently Person A will sit taller in the boat-because most of his 6' height is in his body while Person B's is in his legs. Person A will need a longer paddle. Endless combinations exist, short, heavy people; tall, light weight people; long legs, short legs, etc. Be aware that your overall height is but one of the considerations in choosing a paddle length.

Besides body type, boat width forward of the cockpit is important. An excessively wide boat requires a long paddle so one does not have to lean to get a paddle blade in the water. Conversely, a narrow boat requires a shorter paddle to avoid excessive "Sweeping" with the paddle, which makes steering a bit difficult.

Finally, there are several paddle types to choose from, each designed for specific applications. Short, rectangular blades, either flat or spoon style, are used for whitewater river running. Spoon style blades are more widely used because of their performance characteristics. Long, rectangular flat blades are used for sea touring/expedition work. They can also be used for general touring. In whitewater, however, they tend to be useless. Oval shaped blades are used for wildwater/downriver paddling, flatwater and marathon racing. These can also be used for touring as well as expeditions in open water.

West Side Boat Shop - 7661 Tonawanda Creek Road, Lockport, NY 14094
Telephone: (716) 434-5755
www.westsideboatshop.com