Re: [Paddlewise] Paddles

On Nov 23, 2007 11:24 PM, Bob Carter <revkayak_at_aptalaska.net> wrote:

> I am seriously thinking about buying a new paddle. For those of you who do
> multi day, boat loaded down, kayak trips what type paddle do you use and
> why?
> Happy thanksgiving
>

Before you make a decision on a new paddle, at least *try* a wing paddle.
Your specific location might make it difficult to do it right though,
because I think that one would need at least a few miles to get used to it.
No one in my group - and we're all 4 to 5 kt paddlers - can keep up with
whoever has my wing. And when I'm with someone not quite so fast I can keep
up easily with a few strokes and then glide. A 3.5 kt average with my wing
is easy but I've only made one heavily-loaded trip with it.

However, Dave Kruger tried my wing and said that he thought it would make
his shoulder problems worse. I don't have any shoulder problems and I can
paddle all day with this older, heavy, and  never-actually-in-production
Werner wing. But perhaps something lighter and not quite so stiff wouldn't
do that; like one of the Epics. I dunno cuz all I had was the ax-handle
Werner when he tried it. It's worth noting that we all had to work our butts
off to keep up with him while he had it, though.

Otherwise, at least in my opinion, lighter is definitely better; my other
favorite paddle is a very light "Lightning" sold by Matt Broze and marked
"Mariner". That paddle was made in Oregon and may no longer be in
production.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
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