RE: [Paddlewise] broken paddles

 Frank Lucian <murpho_at_mediaone.net>
"(Who frequently uses an unfeathered two-piece Lightning paddle in the
surf without any problems.)" wrote:

>>>Speaking of broken paddles, an instructor (who works at a retail shop)
recently was telling me that he had never seen a two-piece paddle break
in the middle, and that they were actually stronger than one-piece
paddles due to the inner sleeve that holds them together. I had always
assumed that one-piece paddles were the strongest. Any thoughts or
experiences out there? <<<

The joint isn't the most common area that paddles break but some do break
there. Some of these breaks are because a tremendous leverage can be created
if the paddle is bent when putting it together or taking it apart when only
a 1/2 inch or so of overlap exists. The inner sleeve stiffens the shaft in
one are so creates a stress riser next to the sleeve (as well as a stronger
area where the sleeve actually is). This can load up too much force into a
small area next to the joint if the paddle is severely flexed. Some two
piece joints get looser with wear and that play can also split the female
end much like the first example (which is most likely with a too hard to
take apart joint and somebody struggling to get it apart or together and
wiggling the joint side to side rather than using a twisting action. Any
tube is going to be stronger against splitting open in the middle of the
tube, where the material is continuous, rather than near an edge where it is
not as well supported by the material around it.

Given a paddle made of the same shaft material I bet the one-piece shaft
will stand up to more abuse (I'll even give odds). Some paddle makers beef
up the shafts in the middle on their two piece paddles. Lightning does this
on their ultralight graphite paddles.

I hope you are not using a graphite paddle in the surf. You will be very
unlikely to break a glass one surfing even if it is a two piece and you
paddle unfeathered. Just last week I got a Lightning back under warrantee
that split at the female end. This is extremely rare with this paddle but
not unheard of. The paddler didn't know how it had happened but I'd guess it
happened when taking it apart or putting it together. Another possibility is
it was stepped on or driven over at the edge of the female joint while it
was not together.

Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com


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