Paddles?

[Karen]

I'm looking to buy a set of paddles. I'm looking to spend not more than 100euros, would anyone have anything?

Or should I just but first hand? 

Advice also welcome! 

[joxer]

I would recommend getting paddles first hand (if you can afford them). I know they are more expensive etc but at least you know their history. A lot of times paddles break it is because of all the abuse they have been through on rivers. Also you have the advantage of customising the shaft lenght and paddle angle to suit yourself. I have the same tempest since Summer 99 and they are still going strong ( I have probally jinxed myself now)

I found that I reduced the tendonitis in my wrist by going to a smaller feather angle of 30 degrees. I also had a preference for only one aggressive grip for my right hand. You also get the option of the best shaft length ( I know somebody will make this sound filthy)

Try a few peoples paddles out and see if there are some your prefer. I have a spare 45 degree pair at home if you want to try them

Joxer

[TomB]

Hey Karen,

The most important thing about paddles is that there right for you and that you try as many as you can to find the specifications you want. There are plenty on factors that can personalise a paddle to the paddler and fine tuning your paddle specifications can take years to get right. However there a basic ones take you can play around with when buying your first.

The first thing you need to know is wether your a play boater, river runner or you don't know yet!

Blade type:

There are two basic blade shapes. the first blade is designed for instant power from the stroke and for paddle strokes around the bow. this is show in the following image.


These blades are commonly used in play boating, however river runners tend to like them if there style involves plenty of short snappy strokes.

The second design, show below, is more suited to river running/creeking.


This design of blade offers more even power from the start of the stroke to when blade is pulled from the water.

Blade design is the most important one to play around with and try other peoples paddles.

Blade Size

Too big a blade will be difficult to pull through the water and may cause muscle injury. Too small a blade will mean too weak a stroke to move your boat to where you want to go.

Baiscally ask your self 'how strong am I?' then choose between small medium or large.

Shaft diameter

People with small hands can get paddle shafts with a small diameter. This allows a fuller grip around the shaft.

Try this out. you don't even need to take the paddles out on the water. just see how various diamters feel in your hand when your in the shop.

Shaft type

Straight shaft or crank. Straight shaft paddles are cheaper. Cranks are more expensive but offer more comfort. people debate if the cost is worth it but i think there great.

This one is really just a cost based choice.

Paddle length

The lenght range on paddles is from 185-205cm, however the typical length is 190-197cm. Short paddles tend to be for playboaters as can be side ways, upside down, spinning etc and paddles can get in the way. Long paddles tend to be for river running/creeking. Longer paddles offer more stability and power.

Smaller/petite should try lower down on the scale, while bigger stronger people should be higher on the scale.

For example, if your small and into playboating try 190cm, if your bigger and into river running try 197cm, or 193/4cm can be middle of the road.

Its important to try this one on the river and remember a couple of cm can make a huge difference.

Feather

This is the angle between the blades. Club blades are always 90deg, however this feather is only useful in very windy conditions. For whitewater paddlers 45deg to 5deg is typical, however up near 45 deg is more popular. 45 deg offers more comfort than a club blade as there is less rotation of your right hand.
5 deg paddles are very specialised and offer no rotation of your right hand . However it is very difficult to paddle with any other angle once your used to this tight angle. To be honest i paddle with zero feather before and its not all its craic'd up to be.

Safety

Not a big consideration of beginners/intermediates however for advanced paddler on grade 5 rivers its is very important to have a strong paddle.

the grade 5 envirnment can be harsh on a paddle and i have seen some horrible grade 5 swims because of broken paddles.

Rough stuff have given themselves a bad name in recent years for reliability of there paddles, however brands like werner and AT are bomb proof.

Overall Cost

expensive blades means that if you lose you paddle its a right kickin the stones.

Second hand blades

I wouldn't recommend second blades for grade 4 rivers as you don't know where they've been.

Also as paddles can be personalised, it may be hard to fined the exact paddle you want.

However, if you find the paddle you want and your happy with the condition go for it.

Hope this helps, theres alot in there and to be honest there's not much out there for 100 yoyo. i recken for 150 you could find what you want and get it brand new.

Tom

[joxer]

Tom,
Much better explanation than what I had. You moving to dublin yet

John

[mmmmm]

Karen,

Claire has paddles she's more then willing to sell cheaply as they haven't been used in about 2 years. They're pretty old but in good knick. They're rough stuff either kinetics or tempests. I have no idea about feather or any of that but they're pretty nice to paddle with. I've been out of the world of second hand gear for a while so if anyone would like to suggest a fair price we'll go with it!

[Towelyey]

so basically you're selling off your sisters paddles for whatever price you're offered!??? do you think i could get away with that? caoimhe wouldn't mind right??

[Evan]

if anyone would like to suggest a fair price we'll go with it!

€20 opening bid - Karen I'll sell you these for €30

[Karen]

Deal!!

Thanks for all the info everyone!

[caz]

at bit off topic here, but i'm just wondering, does anyone else get blisters from their paddles? everytime i go out i end up with them on the inside of my thumbs and also on the inside of my middle finger. they're very sore and annoying, and i've tried loosening my grip when i paddle but that hasn't seemed to make a difference.  are there any tricks out there to prevent getting them? or is it just a case that i don't paddle often enough to get used to the paddles on my hands.

[Asho87]

yeh me and holly used to get em from club blades....

eeewwwww see hollys thumb.... ewww (I love you holly xx )

[kmck]

Blisters should ease over time paddling, I never got them but I never got them when I rowed either? My advice is to look at how you grip the paddle, is the shaft to big? Is there any rough spots on it.Are you allowing the right hand to move instead of staying solid, there are a huge number of reasons. Then get yourself a good handcream like that norwegian one for fishermen. Don't burst the blister let them heal on there own that should help toughen them up.

[TomB]

The story with blisters . . . .

Blisters are cuased by chaffing of the paddle on your hands. if you get blisters on your right, its because your grip is too loose. the reason for this is that there is relative motion between your thumb and the paddle causing the friction rub.

On your left hand a blister is caused by the rotation on the left blade on your hand. You will develop callices on your thumbs over time, but a paddles with grips on the shaft increase the friction on the paddle shaft and doesn't help. Also a large feather on the paddle means more rotation of the shaft through your hand.

So in summary, stronger grip on your right hand, with a smooth surface on the left hand end of the paddle shaft, and low feather on the paddle. This should reduce blisters.

Tom

[Towelyey]

blisters is a great song!!!! im not sure that it was played over the weekend or was i just too drunk to notice???

[Asho87]

there was definitely blisters on friday i was on table!

[Towelyey]

huh!!