Choosing a Kayak Paddle

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ 

Here's your outdoor tip on choosing a kayak paddle.

Your choice of paddle can make a big difference in your enjoyment on the water.  The choice is not difficult, but too many times kayakers do not take the time to learn some basics about choosing the correct paddle for their paddling style, height and width of their kayak. Paddler height and boat width are the main factors although specialized paddling can dictate specialized blades and some other differences in design.

The industry standard is to use metric centimeters (2.54 centimeters (cm) =1") to describe paddle lengths.  Paddles range from about 200cm to 260cm in length. Taller paddlers need a longer paddle than shorter ones do for the same boat.  For example a paddler over 6’ with a 26” wide boat would want about a 230 cm paddle and a 5’ paddler with the same boat would be better off with a 220cm paddle.  In the transcript for this podcast, I’ve included a sample table for paddles and you will find that most paddle manufactures will have tables that provide you with guides.

Boat Width à	23"	23" to 28"	28" to 32"	Over 32"
Under 5' tall	210cm	220cm	230cm	240cm
5' to 5'6" tall	215cm	220cm	230cm	240cm
5'6" to 6' tall	220cm	220cm	230cm	250cm
Over 6' tall	220cm	230cm	240cm	250cm

Your torso is another element when using your height to determine which paddle length to buy.  If you are a serious paddler, you will want to consider your torso length to judge the proper paddle length. Seat height can also make a difference in paddle length.

Stroke preferences make a difference in paddle length also.  A high power stroke bringing the power face closer to the side of the boat in a less acute angle of entry can be a preference.  A low stroke angle for casual touring that puts the shaft at a more acute angle to the surface can make a difference.  The same paddler in the same kayak will use a slightly shorter paddle for the former style and slightly longer for the latter.

Blade materials vary with the lighter the weight, the easier the paddling.  Weight is most important for touring on long trips and strength is key for whitewater.  Fiberglass is popular because it is relatively light and offers good durability with a wide range of colors.  Carbon fiber is light and distinctive in look with high-performance.  Nylon, aluminum, and plastic are affordable, durable and require minimal care making them great spare paddles and can be a good choice for beginners though relatively heavy.

Blades are either feathered or nonfeathered.  Nonfeathered means blades are positioned in line with each other.  Feathered blades are in different planes at an angel to each other.  Feathering reduces the wind resistance and wrist fatigue as one blade pushes the water as the other travels through the air.  Small angles are easier on the wrists and larger angles offer greater efficiency.

Most kayak paddles have straight shafts. Bent-shaft paddles positions hands at a more comfortable angle to reduce fatigue.  Small-diameter shafts are less fatiguing for paddlers with smaller hands. 

These are the black and white guidelines for selecting a paddle, but paddle selection really has many gray areas.  The best method for determining the proper length is to get on the water and paddle with different paddles lengths, shapes, weights, and other variables.

There are two quick pick methods for determining a proper length of paddle to use:

1. The first has you holding your arms out with elbows bent at about right angles in paddling posture and normally grasping the paddle. Your hands should be about 2/3 of the way from the center of the shaft to the shoulder of the blade.
2. Stand a paddle upright (vertically) alongside you. Reach up with your arm and hook your first finger joints over the top edge (tip) of the paddle. If you can reach over the top edge or, conversely, if your fingers don’t even reach the top, choose a different length.

 

And if you are like most serious paddlers, you will soon have a selection of paddles in your arsenal.  Having the correct paddle makes paddling much more enjoyable.

 

This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/

Additional outdoor tips can be received by subscribing to the Outdoor Professor Tips on iTunes or Stitcher.  If you enjoy outdoor tips, you’ll also find an e-book at Amazon.com with a collection of the Outdoor Professor Tips.

 

References-Additional Reading

Kayak Paddles: How to Choose
http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/kayak-paddle.html

Kayak Paddle Length: Picking the Right Length
http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?714

Two Blades for the Price of One: Choosing a Kayak Paddle
http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?17

Nature Quotient.
eBook @Amazon.com

Outdoor Professor’s Tips: Exploring the Wonders of Nature
eBook @Amazon.com

Check out this episode!

Recreational Kayaks

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ 

Here's your outdoor tip on recreational kayaks.

A recreational kayak is a kayak designed for the casual paddler interested in enjoying recreational activities on a lake or protected slow-moving flows of water.  There are more recreational kayaks sold than any other as they are the best choice for beginning kayakers.  They are frequently used for fishing, birdwatching, or photography. They are not good for open water or use in strong winds or current.

Characteristics of a recreational kayak include:

               Large cockpit opening for easy entry/exit

               Wider beam (27-30+ inches) for stability

               Usually 12’ or less

                              Reduces speed compared to longer boats

                              Lighter and easy to handle out of water

                              Does not track as well as long/narrow boats

                              Have limited cargo capacity

               Use less expensive materials such as rotomolded polyethylene

               Affordable-Less expensive than larger boats

Recreational kayaks are usually sit-on-tops or sit-in models.

Sit-on-top kayaks give you a great deal of freedom to move around and not be enclosed within a kayak.  They provide stable and usually self-bailing platforms for fishing, sunbathing, and nature watching. Sit on tops have similar hull shapes to their counterparts, but you sit in some kind of small depression on top of the boat. This puts the seat of a sit-on-top is slightly above the water level, so the center of gravity for the paddler is higher costing them speed and maneuverability.  Paddlers with large body types feel less confined paddling a sit-on-top. Many consider it an advantage to have an open deck rather than an enclosed one as there is no risk of being trapped in the boat if it tips over.

Sit-in kayaks fit around your body and are usually dryer than their sit-on counter parts.  Some will even let you wear a skit over the cockpit to help keep you dry.  They usually provide the advantage of providing more dry gear storage.  If water does get into the boat, you will need a sponge, cloth or bailing pump to get the water out of your boat.

Sit-on-top and sit-in kayaks can be found in all the basic categories of kayaks, but the sit-on-top is the most common recreational kayak because of its accessibility.  Both models can also be found in tandem configurations and with various kind of construction such as inflatable models.  There is a current trend to also find more kayaks having some form of mechanical propulsion as an option.

My recommendation is always to “try before you buy” any kayak.  Personal preferences, size, and physical capabilities vary between people and can make a difference as to which kayak is good for you.  Most people will start with a reasonably priced recreational kayak before they go on to purchase a more expensive type that more specifically fits their personality and lifestyle.  No matter what your choice, it’s hard to go wrong with your first boat and you will enjoy the outdoors as you learn more about your paddling preferences.

 

This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/

Additional outdoor tips can be received by subscribing to the Outdoor Professor Tips on iTunes or Stitcher.  If you enjoy outdoor tips, you’ll also find an e-book at Amazon.com with a collection of the Outdoor Professor Tips.

 

References-Additional Reading

How to Buy a Used Kayak or Canoe
http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Buy-a-Used-Kayak-or-Canoe-/10000000177635992/g.html

Kayak Types
http://www.smart-start-kayaking.com/Kayak-Types.html

Which Kayak Is Right for Me?
http://www.roscocanoes.com.au/KAYAKS/FAQ%60s/Which%20kayak%20is%20right%20for%20me-244.aspx

Nature Quotient.
eBook @Amazon.com

Outdoor Professor’s Tips: Exploring the Wonders of Nature
eBook @Amazon.com

Check out this episode!