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

> The people I paddle with are all talking about getting the latest 4-
> piece paddle: take-apart shaft with replaceable blades. I can 
> understand the use of a take-apart for an on-deck spare or if you 
> have a tiny little car and can't carry a 1-piece, but 4-piece???
> 
> The other big thing in paddles these days is an adjustable ferrule 
> that lets you change the length or feather.
> 
> What is the appeal of these things? Do people really swap out blades 
> all the time? Are they really changing the length and feather? I can 
> understand if you are a new paddler and don't know what you like, but 
> are these features really useful for an experienced paddler?
> 
> I personally make my own paddles, but have always felt that a 1-piece 
> will be lighter and stronger as well as being immune to jamming and 
> loosening. But it is almost impossible to find a 1-piece paddle 
> intended for sea kayaks these days. Stores don't stock them and 
> catalogs don't list them. They are typically a special order item.  I 
> did special order a wing paddle recently. I got a 1-piece with 
> heavier glass blades. It was much cheaper than the full carbon take-
> apart and only barely heavier. One-piece paddles are still easily 
> available for whitewater.
> 
> My first impression is that manufacturers and dealers are just trying 
> to save oversized shipping charges, or maybe it is a way to giving 
> the appearance of higher value to support higher retail prices. The 
> replaceable blade system is probably a good way to sell more blades 
> as people lose or break one and have to buy two to replace it.
> 
> Why are people buying these things and why can't you find a good 1-
> piece any more?
> 
> 
> Nick Schade
> 

I was looking at one of the Lendel 4-piece paddles a while back. All 
broken down, it fit into a rolled bag that looked more like what 
you'd carry a pool cue in. Very slick! As I'm currently planning for 
an extended trip to New Zealand for some paddling this coming winter, 
I was interested in the idea of more conveniently bringing my own 
paddle.

The length adjustment is something I've thought about. Shorter for 
when I'm powering along with a more vertical stroke; longer for when 
I'm just sliding along, looking for wildlife, using a more horizontal 
stroke. On the other hand, I've been getting along relatively well 
with the single paddle that I use now, so...

Feathered paddles seem to bother my wrist, mainly my right one (I'm 
right-handed), so I go unfeathered all the time. I've only tried a 90 
and a 60-degree feather, so perhaps one of the other angles might be 
a compromise I could live with. I don't know that I'd pay extra just 
to be able to try it out though.

I'm a long way from needing different blades. Or at least from 
_knowing_ that I need different blades. Other than the rare short-
distance race to beat someone back to the dock, or a sprint for 
exercise, my paddling is much the same from day to day. I don't know 
what I'd do with different blades, to tell the truth.

But then, I don't know what I'd do with a cell phone or a GPS either. 
Traces of Luddite blood run through my veins, obviously.

-- 
  Darryl
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