UCD Canoe Club
General => Kayaking => Topic started by: kjt on February 20, 2008, 13:41:10
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Hey Hey,
I'm planning on buying some blades this week, wondering if some people could give me a bit of advice?
I've narrowed it down to the following three. I'll be using these for a bit of playboating but more so river running.
I'm thinking 193cm in lenght and 45o Feather.
Player Freestyle Paddle (http://www.i-canoe.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/1_103/products_id/377)
Sherpa WW Paddle (http://www.i-canoe.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/1_103/products_id/376)
Sidekick Paddle (http://www.i-canoe.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/1_103/products_id/360)
Any and all advice welcome!!
Thanks
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May I suggest 30 degree feather. Easier on the wrists and you say playboating is important. You will stil get some advantage when paddling into the wind, but you aren't doing any racing or large ocean crossings.
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I go with either the sherpa or the player. The face on the sidekick is large than the other 2. I used to paddle a sidekick and now use players. I prefer the slightly smaller face. I've found that they're more responsive. I've spoken to many people who have the same feeling.
Between the sherpa and the player, I'd probably go with the player. I haven't used the sherpa, but based on what it says on the werner website, the player sounds a bit more versatile for the type of paddling you're looking at doing.
In terms of length and feather, that's a personal choice. Some people prefer long blades, others short ones. I used ot have 191s now i've 194s. I liked both lengths but the 194s would probably be my preference. Both sets were 45 degree I think. I think the standard with Werner is 45 degree, but you may be able to get a different feather if you request it. Never had a problem with a 45 degree feather. there's a bit more wrist work on the 45 than a 30 obviously, but again, it's up to you and you're best going with whatever you find the most comfortable and the most responsive on the water.
hope that helps,
slapper
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And make sure both blades are the same!!! ;)
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Get cranks,
with a low feather,
in a bright colour.
Nothing else matters....
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lenght is really up to you. i have 194 in river running blades and my playboating ones are 190. ( though ive been told river running blades should be longer)
you want long blades for river running short ones for playboating. so if you want both you'll need to go for an inbetwen lenght.
as for the feather the bigger the degree the harder it will be doing tricks and stuff my playboating ones are 0 and my river ones 30 i can barely use 45's now . cartwheeling and stuff is easyer with a lower degree feather
my advice get 0's What the hell is the point of feather anyway??? wind resistance or something? im not a fecking sea kayaker!
that is all
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I don't know much about the particular paddles you mention Kyle, but I'd look at the feather issue. If you have good reason for going 45, go ahead, but I find lots of people use 45 because that's what the shops have, or go to 30 if someone suggests it. I've paddled zero degree for years now and don't have any issues. If you are playboating maybe it's different - I don't know anything about that. Paddles have feather for historical reasons that are mostly not relevant.
I'd suggest trying out flat paddles first. Takes about ten minutes to get the hang of it, then you're sorted and definitely won't get wrist problems later.
Jim.
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Thanks for all the replies lads. I was thinking of going with 10/15o.
A good few are saying 0o could be best so I might try get my hands on a set and go with that.
I've used 90, 45 and 0(with cranks) and gotten used to them all within a few minutes so I might just shoot this blind and go 0o's Player Freestyle straight off.
I'm going more towards rivers than playboating, I think that came out wrong in the original post.
River running ~80/85% and Playboating ~15/20%
Thanks again Lads!
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I am a lady, excuse u! :P and that was good sound advice i gave u!!
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Another backer of 0 degree paddles. Everytime i have to use 45degrees i cringe.
Get bright coloured paddles like Dave said. Black is hard to find when the water is dark brown.
When ordering online you sometimes don't know what colour you'll get, so ask.
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All the blades you listed are werner which means you'd have to wait about six months at least if you want any angle other than 45. (They basically mass manufacture them to 45 so they wait until all other orders are done before thinking about setting yours) I had that problem when getting my double diamonds, I previously had 30 but didn't bother waiting and got 45's. To be honest the only difference I've found is that it's harder to flatwater loop, and harder to backdeck roll on your offside as you have to twist alot more, with 45's, other than that there's no problems. I also find when moving from using blades with a big angle, like the club ones you've been using it's nice to have a small twist-like 45. Go for the players they rock!! Definitely one of the best all round blades out there, I'd go for 194 if your goina play and river run.
Ps- the my robsons that you've been using from time to time are 191, and 45 degrees.
oh and don't bother with cranks unless you really need them, their just more expensive.
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Cheers Dave!
Didn't think there'd be that big a wait :(
EDIT:spelling
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Hey
Just be carefull with the Weiners. I have a set of players which are great blades but they are a bit fragile for irish rivers. I took chunks out of them the first time i used them here.
L
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I paddle with Sherpas bought in the shop set at 30 degrees 194cm in length. I find them fine for river running although it has been suggested that the blade face is a bit big for me. Lets know if you want to borrow them, Ill be in Limerick at the weekend.
Good Luck
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Ahh I'll be gentle with them then Lorcan ;)
Thank Sara :)
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I bought Werners because I kept snapping my blades. I've been as rough with them as I ever am and they've held up well. Be aware that they will scratch like bejaysus. Players ar the business though. Get short paddles for Irish rivers as acceleration is more important than long powerful strokes. I'd suggest no lower than 192mm and no higher than 194mm for you. I think Werners are a bit anal about their lengths aswell so check to see what's available.
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Thanks for that Kill, yea the blade lenghts are in 3cm jumps. So I think I'm gonna go with 194 as opposed to 191.
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I'd go for the Werners. I have the players and Double Diamonds and have had no problems with either, except for what Lorcan said about them being a bit fragile but just be careful with them and you willbe grand!!
Not too sure about 0 degree feathers myself!! think it depends a bit on your paddling style, when im paddling my body twists a bit, so 0 degrees are not really 0 degrees but more -10 or -5 which means i have to twist them back on themself. I know some other people that are like this too but at the end of the day it is you who will be paddling with them so just try as many as possible and but what you like!!
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you've two sets of blades? do you even paddle joey? ;) :D ;D
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I can let you use my players over the weekend, they're not quite as short as kill suggested you go, but at 194cm they might be what you're looking for, I got mine at the start of the summer and I've already reduced them by about half an inch through wear and tear. They're glass and cranked, you welcome to try them though. I now paddle with the powerhouse blade (bigger version of the sherpa). It's incredible comfortable and extremely powerful when you need it to be, it might be a bit much for sustained high rate of paddling (or so I've nbeen told) but I haven't that to be true yet (or I just haven't tried hard enough ::) ). I think they're a lot easier on you because of the way the stroke seems to draw power all the way through steadily as against the player which is strongest at the start of the stroke. The differences are fairly obvious when you paddle with them. I 'll be in limerick over the weekend. By the way, if you're looking at werners, Munster Dive and Canoe and I-Canoe are way cheaper than GODs.
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Cheers Conor. I won't be in Limerick at the weekend but maybe if I could get them off you during the week.
I'm going to be ordering them from the states as I've seen them for a good price.
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If your getting them from the ststes . . . Just make sure you don't get stung for tax and duty!!
That adds a considerable bit on to the price (duty is added first, think it 13% for blades and then they sting you for vat at 21%, so at a cost of €100 when you add duty and tax its all of a sudden €136.70)
A way round is to get whoever sends them to put down a value of less then €30 on the packaging that way you get away scott free . . .
Ps make sure that the full lenght can be sent, as most couriers wont take things over 1.5m
Later
Sean
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I was looking into ordering blades from the states, but they said they wouldn't deliver anything that large overseas.
I ended up getting a set of crank shaft players from a place in the UK for less than the straight shaft players cost in GODs. Try this website:
http://www.cheltenham-canoes.co.uk/products/paddles/paddles-white-water-surf.htm (http://www.cheltenham-canoes.co.uk/products/paddles/paddles-white-water-surf.htm)
I got them posted to an address in Scotland and picked them up when I was there, so that helped keep the price down too. Worth checking out.
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Cheers lads. Yea I'm ordering from the States and the delivery is $150 but they can send up to 3blades in that package.
If anybody's interested in a new set pm my by 3 today or ring me. The price of the blades are $230 each, I've been cheeky enough to ask for a discount and their giving me 10% on blades.
I was looking into duty/vat last night and I think it's pretty shite how delivery gets charged too:
Blades - $230
Delivery - $150
Subtotal - $380
Duty @12/13% - $47.50 ($427.50)
Vat @ 21% - $89.78
Total = $517.28
€348.68 - That is if I get stung for duty and vat :(
I ordered a few camera bits worth over €1,800 a good few months ago and asked the shop to mark it as a gift. I think them put the value down as €3/400. I ended up paying €30 when delivered, so hopefully this place will do the same.
Oh and it only takes them 2-3weeks to customize the order, better than 2-3months as I told by two shops over here.
Thanks for everybody's great replies :)