Re: [Paddlewise] What happened to 1-piece paddles?

Nick Schade said: The people I paddle with are all talking about getting
the latest 4- piece paddle: take-apart shaft with replaceable blades. 
Why are people buying these things and why can't you find a good 1-
piece any more?



Nick,

I only use 1 piece paddles for normal paddling.  But when I ship my
folder on a plane, a four piecer is nice.  The shaft pieces pack into
the roll of my sleeping pad, which a 2 piecer can't, having the blades
attached and all. And a 2 piecer is good on the back deck as a spare,
although I much prefer a single blade canoe paddle for myself.

I love the Mitchell Sea Blade one piece.  Heavy as it is it feels nice
to me.

I don't care much about the feather angle on my paddles - I can switch
from Inuit paddle to 90 degree whitewater or sea kayak paddle to 70
degree sea kayak paddle to canoe paddle with never a missed beat.  I
wouldn't pay for the adjustable ferrule.  But, just as an example of how
some folks think:  The great Danish sprint racer Erik Hansen had a bag
full of paddles for racing.  Each was feathered differently, from 90
degrees to almost zero.  He used a paddle based on wind conditions. 
Tail wind = no feather.  Head wind = 90 degrees.  I wasn't sure what the
in betweens were for.

And, of course, there is the tech weenie that loves new stuff no matter
what the value of it.  I knew a number of whitewater paddlers who had to
have the newest design of paddle and boat as soon as they came out.  But
they couldn't use either boat or paddle to the fullest capabilities
because they spent money on stuff instead of time on technique.


I love a good jeremiad now and then.  Keep up the good work!

Jim Tibensky
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