Paddles

[Not_Fred_Honest]

I was talking to Matty in the lobby about this today, but it was busy.
So I will post on here

Matty said he got all his stuff from cambridge kayaks and they only sell one paddle.

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This one for under £30

Well that one will snap in 5 mins

At the beginning you need a unbreakable paddle. They don't cost that much to buy too. The one lend out is the Ainsworth. Its made from poly carb and you just cant break it. God knows people have tried. These sell for about £115 right now.

OCEAN (Poly Carb) One Piece Glass

OCEAN high angle paddle This high angled paddle is the ultimate power machine, designed specifically to move water fast, in either touring

www.ainsworthpaddles.co.uk

Another good one is Feelfree Day Tour Deluxe - 2 Part Splits These are about £85.

Feelfree Day Tour Deluxe Split Paddles

Feelfree Day Tour Deluxe 2 Part Split paddle with push button spigot, perfect for easy transport and storage - nationwide mail order available

www.brighton-canoes.co.uk

Paddle blade size is important too.




If your only going down a cannel or on flat water a low power blade is better. (600cm)

If I'm playing in the surf I want all the power I can get and use 750cm.

This comes down to personal fitness too. You need to hit the rowing machine twice a week to use big blades and the local swimming pool too.

So what do I use?

My celtic 4 piece paddles are useful. You can swap the blades over.

Pro Sea Touring Paddle - 2/4 Piece - Straight Carbon shaft - Nylon Leverlok

This item is built to order, please allow 3 working days for dispatch Pro Sea Touring paddle - 2 or 4 Piece with Nylon leverlok centre joint - Straight shaft Standard or Narrow Shaft. Adjustable length plus 10cm Adjustable feather Standard shaft 29mm OD Standard shaft 27mm OD Reflective...

shop.seakayakinguk.co.uk

Have a Werner corryvreckan

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Corryvreckan 2 Piece Bent Shaft

[ kor - ee - vrek - in ] A phenomenal tidal whirlpool off the coast of Scotland. The Corryvreckan is our largest premium High Angle blade, designed for those who want powerful strokes in all directions. The perfect paddle for the coastal play environment, or for those strong enough to move lots...

wernerpaddles.com

I just brought a cheap Werner tybee fg 2pc straight shaft paddle in the sales as a spare. And looking at a VE carbon Fara - Carbon shaf.

And I bet your sat there wondering why I spend so much on paddles? A paddle above the £250 mark works better in the water, weights less and feels better in the hand. If your paddling for a few hours that's makes a lot of difference. If I'm bouncing around in the surf or river running the cheap ones just don't have the power I need.


So how do you break a paddle?

Pushing off the bank or beach is common. Crashing into rocks and beach. I did see one broken after the owner drove over it by mistake. Kayak self rescue too.

And this so wrong please don't do it !!

The best way is to flip the boat upright, get round the front of the boat, push the nose down and let the waves push you back on. In under 2 mins your be back on the boat and wont snap a paddle.

 

[Not_Fred_Honest]

I was asked about kayaks and canoes, what's better?

This comes down to skill level and fitness. If your a bit of a lard ass, a good sit on kayak will keep you happy.

If your 60kg and fit as ****, a play boat will bring you joy.

What's the difference between a sit on and sit in kayak? Training !!

Lets look at a sit in kayak




You need to learn to roll and self rescue before taking one of these out. You can go 20 miles or more on one. Nice fast boats you can load up with camping gear and head off for the weekend. The down side is the cost. Good sea kayak is over 4k.

I did see more of the America canoes on the rivers last summer.




These start at about grand for a single seater. a good double is 3k. If you fall out, good luck !! Ok for river and lakes but no good for the beach. These are buy and go boats, you don't really need any training to use them. Its the kind of boat you'd take your mum out in with the dog. I'm not a fan of these.


Sit on beach kayak





These are cheap and imported from China. You cant really break them. They paddle like a skip but are stable. They wont flood and if you fall out, you just get back in.


The big problem with all these boats is spare parts, transport and weight. You will need a car with a roof rack. They all over 20kg and you will need a trolley.

C-TUG Canoe & Kayak Trolley​

This cost over £100 but its the only one that seems to take the work and last.

 

[Not_Fred_Honest]

There been a lot of chatter on the kayak forums over the weekend on cheap Chinese imports.

This ones list price is round $300, it will sell for round £600 in the UK.

Hotwind 15

[Hot Item] Hotwind 15 Feet Professional Team Competitive Price Sea Kayak for Sale

Usage: Fishing, Racing, Recreational Style: Sea Kayak Hull Material: LLDPE/HDPE Hull Durface Profile: Symmetrical Inflatable: Not Inflatable Color: Multi-colored

vickingkayaks.en.made-in-china.com

I haven't seen one yet, but there mite be a few in the UK.

I have a Volan 160 that I never really use. It paddles well, really fast on the water but its just a bit too big for daily use. They cost round 2k.




When your buying a sea kayak your paying for reduced weight. Volan 160 about 14kg and foam core kevlar/carbon. Hotwind 15 is 30kg and plastic. I dont mind plastic boats..... good idea if your ruff on your gear and like white water. But for every sea kayak out there 100 sit on kayaks. Sea kayaks are a specialized market requiring training to use and not forgiving boats

I can see schools and training centers buying the Hotwind 15 for beginners to use. Plastic boats are really easy to repair. Low cost boats always sell too.

Would I recommend buying one? Naaaa You'd out grow it within a season and be looking for a better boat. Friends who bought a Mezed replace them within 18 months.

Mezcal GTX Solo/Tandem

Introducing the Mezcal: Our brand-new flagship touring kayak for 2024, set to succeed the Mercury. The Mezcal has undergone a complete redesign, boasting an array of advanced features that elevate its performance and user experience.

point65.com

There just to heavy and big to use all the time.

 

[Not_Fred_Honest]

I've been working way in my junk room for the last few hours sorting stuff out.

I notice one of the paddles blades change colour in the light



Kober Manhattan


With the light on its a light turquoise, with the light off it goes back to grey. All my other paddles don't do this.

Goggles told me:

Objects appear to change color in different lights because they reflect certain wavelengths of light, and different light sources contain varying amounts of those wavelengths, leading to different perceived colors.

Trust the Germans to make a paddle like this