Sorry, no.
I needed one
Several weeks ago I was hunting from my Sawyer DY special when I hit and went to retrieve a Canada goose. I reached to get hold of it by the wing but it wasn’t dead and it gave me a real flogging. In the process the goose hit my light carbon paddle and threw it about 20 feet from the canoe.
I had no spare paddle and I was not able to hand paddle to my carbon paddle. I was about 100 yards from shore so I unloaded my 870 Remington pump shotgun and used it as an improvised paddle. It worked but I now carry a spare with me.
Incidentally, this was the largest goose I ever shot. It weighed 12 and 1/4 pounds.
nope
but carry one, always.
man that last story was outta the ordinary eh?
Daggermat would appreciate that
So do I.
Killing the goose, I mean. Want a few more?
Oh, yeah, spare paddles. That is one bizarre story. I half think somebody is pulling our collective legs. Maybe he could cut one off and use that as a spare paddle.
You need to write that into one the …
paddling magazines.
that is one for the books!
Cheers,
JackL
Broke 4 piece Aquabound Carbon
I broke a 4 piece Aquabound carbon Tripper model on a Lake Champlain day paddle. It broke where the blade connects to the shaft and rendered the full paddle useless for the rest of the trip. I broke it around our lunch break, so we still had quite a bit of paddling left to return to the launch. It happened to be the first time I ever carried a spare 
Now I always carry one. May not be for me, but for whomever needs one in the group I am paddling with at the time.
~wetzool
The one time I truly needed a spare
paddle, I also needed a spare boat.
Never while kayaking
but all the time while canoeing. Why is that? Perhaps, it’s more of a pain in the butt to carry a spare kayak paddle, especially if you don’t own a break-down (I do). Perhaps because I have relatively indestructible paddles and am rarely on water that would abuse the paddle. Of course, that doesn’t explain all the whitewater trips I did the same way. So far, I haven’t needed it.
But in the canoe, I’ve needed the spare a number of times. Either broke the paddle I was using, or lost a pole and had to go retrieve it, or had a spare for a buddy that needed it.
Canoes are easy for storing all kinds of crap, of course. I’ve gone on trips with a kayak paddle, a pole, and two canoe paddles and used them all for different conditions.
-rs
Not I but
My fellow paddler and snorkler one day lost his paddle while fiddling around with his snorkeling gear or climbing in and out of the yak.
also saw a paddler that broke a wood paddle once.
Personally no but do believe in the insurance of a spare paddle even though i rearely bring a spare. For loss or injury and a smaller blade.
Brian
Spare paddles
I had my Zaveral paddle blow out of my hands when I stopped for a drink at my turn around point. I would have been sol with out it. Other than that I have never broke a canoe or kayak paddle and needed a spare , nor have my mates.
Spare as an alternative to a leash
Say you drop your paddle as you are getting your skirt on and it floats away. You can find yourself in a situation where the waves are moving your paddle away from you and the wind is blowing you in the opposite direction away from it. Hand paddling may not be enough.
It’s not an alternative for a leash…
…as leashes are often impractical and untrustworthy. Getting into the habit of dropping your paddle in the water while putting on your spray skirt is a really bad idea, as eventually you’ll end up in exactly the situation you described. Set up your deck rigging with a paddle loop across the bow so you can quickly stow your paddle while you attend to other matters. You’ll never need a leash and your paddle will be secure.
Here’s proof…
…that a spare paddle comes in handy! I was in Deception Pass yesterday. The winds were gale force, and the place was kind of a mess with debris, indistinct eddy line, etc. On the way into the pass, we were eddy hopping against strong current and wind all the way to the staging area for the fun peelouts. A couple of times I got slammed into the rocks, and my GP took most of the hits. At first, a long section broke off. A bit later, I got slammed again, and the blade split lengthwise. It still worked OK, but it got pretty weird with the one part flapping so much. Anyway, here’s a little video that shows the paddle being used after the slammings, and then switching to my spare:http://www.vsocial.com/video/?d=181451
Deck-mounted camera?
Good video - lots with decent light as well.
Looks like fun!
– Last Updated: Dec-18-07 7:35 AM EST –
The paddling, that is, not the broken paddle.
One suggestion on the video; it would be much more interesting with the original sounds, rather than the somewhat annoying music.
Annoying Music???
Have you no taste?? 
Actually, the audio on these little cameras isn’t that great, so it sometimes ends up sounding like garble. I may try to repost it without music. Keep your eyes peeled.
By the way, I am anxious to get hold of your book on paddle construction. The excerpt looked really great.
twice
first was when I took an Air Force buddy on the lake. She managed to break the blade of my favorite paddle, and loose two mag-lights. So I gave her my back-up paddle so we could finish the day.
Second, my daughter and i were on the lake and saw this rubber raft waving to us.It was filled with 4 kids who had been plauying on the beach and drifted to the middle of the lake and no way to get back. We gave them our back-up paddle and they used it t oget to shore safely.
I use a leash so never had to use mine but I am glad I do.
one hundred
– Last Updated: Dec-18-07 3:13 PM EST –
...and I'd like to ask the OP what exactly the drawback is to carrying a spare.
You bet…
Unexpetedly lost one in a collision with a tree. Grabbed my spare…
I have seen more than one paddler need to reach for their spare…
There isn’t one but
– Last Updated: Dec-18-07 3:54 PM EST –
the thread made it to 100. Like many questions here...insignificant; but it's something to do when we aren't paddlin'.
Now if anyone sees me paddling be hand because I broke it or lost it and can't find a 1x4 or another substitute and you loan me your spare paddle then you can post here otherwise leave me be...I'll make it home sometime. I always have.
ps Don't forget, I'm the one who paddles the little creeks and rivers.