Yes you are… Even though it looks like you are holding your paddle upside down… Not to be accusing as I am not sure entirely but is there writing on the paddle toward you? It should be right side up readable… The paddle is slightly shaped differently on both sides of the spine and usually the deeper cut is towards the water.
Again just an FYI as I see a lot of rec paddlers starting out holding paddles upside down… Does it matter? Not if you are just cruising and talking to friends but if the storm threatens it does matter.
You have a lot going right. Hat sunglasses gloves water and PFD. Sometimes I forget some of those ( not the PFD its always in the truck)
I really like paddling both kayaks and canoes! However, sailing is dominating my water time lately. Driven by my passion for the way of the paddle, I came here to learn more. I have found this place to be fun and helpful over the 12 years I have been a member. I really enjoy sharing the passion. Met a number of people that have become friends not just people I paddle with. My experience is it is a friendly and helpful group. It doesn’t bother me that some people don’t find what they were looking for in confirmation of what they wanted to hear and decide to leave. That is their prerogative. It’s a rare thing when you can please everybody.
Lots of outrigger folks where I live. Mostly on fishing SOT with high mounted seats and milk crates that hold gear and a place to attach rod holders. Some canoes with outriggers as well. Haven’t seen any Dragon Boats here.
Not much talk about outriggers here and sponsons are seldom mentioned on canoes even though they are great at aiding in self rescue situations.
Kmdw, kayakmedic mentioned blade orientation. Paddle blades are angled slightly to distribute the load. With a completely symmetric kayak paddle blade, like many canoe paddles, the tip closest to the water would catch first and cause the paddle to torque around the axis of the shaft. That would cause the paddler to grip the paddle tighter to prevent rotation, with the effort causing the muscle in your hand more fatigue.
The difference between a high angle and low angle paddle is subtle. High angle paddle tips are less angled, because the tip enters the water closer to perpendicular. The low angle paddle presents more of the blade edge to the water, so the blades are longer/narrower, with a more pronounced tip angle to reduce the torquing effect.
Your paddle is relatively symmetric, and the tip angle is less pronounced. It appears to be designed for kayak fishing. The symetric design is practical, because it works equally well in maneuvering the boat, regardless of how you present the blade to the water. The little notch is possibly a Lure Retrieval Notch designed to recover lures stuck in trees or weeds. The paddle should work just as well whether fishing, retrieving lures or just out to paddle and enjoy the water. As kayakmedic points out, the difference would be most noticable when trying to make headway in high winds or fighting strong current.
I am a rookie rec paddler. Thank you, everyone, that post the gobbs of beneficial knowledge for all paddlers, rec paddlers included. Your knowledgeable posts help me be a, better, safer rec paddler.
I have learned so much here. I have made many decisions based on info you gave us. Notably, the posts regarding proper packing and how to maximize packing for multi-day paddling trips. I truly enjoyed learning what you consider must-have, can’t - be- without things when going on multi day paddling excursions. Thank you for graciously sharing your knwledge
I dream so much here. I dream of paddling through some of the many beaitiful, wondrous places that are often captured in the perfect photos you shared. Thank you for sharing those moments.
I am an over- 60 rookie rec paddler that often enjoys imagining being right there with you when you describe your adventure and the feelings in your heart while on the water. Thank you for allowiing me to see these things vicariously through your posts in this forum.
I’ve laughed so much here. Some of you are just funny as … umm. Well… you’re very funny! Thank you for the laughs and smiles. Really!
I do not post hardly anything here simply because I know to listen when I’m learning. Questions aside, it is very hard to learn when talking. I have yet to build enough experience to advise anyone on anything regarding paddling. .
Maybe one day soon, I can get off my butt and take some decent pics worth sharing. In doing so, you can see how happy paddling has made me (ohhh, and my Son and Granddaughters!).
BoooYah, you took the words out of my mouth. Sounds like you see through some of the harsh sarcasm that many reserve for their closest comrades. I’m 71 yrs old and have broken parts. Like many other members, we will never let human frailty or age stop the progress or enjoyment. In fact, if you dig into the archives, you’ll find that what many members lost in growth hormones or physical ability, has been compensated for by gaining knowledge from the forum.
And don’t sell yourself short. The string of comments like the one you just posted proves the effectiveness of the forum. Remember that information you gain from practical experience can be passed on to other members at the same level. A member pointed out that a lot of rec boats are sold every year. You might be the best voice to help others at the same level.
Regarding learning and talking, sometimes the best way lock a new technique down is to explain it to another person. The visualization is close to actually performing the act. The good part is that if you’re wrong, somebody will let you know, but so what. Your identity is anonymous.
You are obviously enjoying yourself! With the range of ambitions here, from just having a great time getting on the local pond to to wanting a speedster of a boat to wanting manage things like surf and and multi-day open water trips… the unifying thing is why do it if you are not enjoying it.
OK so the the paddle is upside down - the rounded shape should be on the bottom. But frankly my sister could never keep that straight with the better paddle I gave her for the Loon and it never mattered. The boat got where it needed to go on the sheltered water she used and she had a good time.
I think I am seeing a clear plastic cell phone case? So your ability to call out in an emergency is probably more readily available than mine would be right now. I am going to have to find another, bigger case for my new phone because I am just not up for reading a tiny screen.
Dragon boaters are on some inland rivers. We have a couple of dragon boats locally that are rowed by women recovering from cancer. The only downside is that if you clear whatever period to indicate you are past it, you get kicked off the boat for someone in a more tenuous stage of recovery.
A member offered a tip, not an admonishment. Its obvious some paddlers just don’t “pay attention to the orientation”, thinking a paddle is a paddle. Point was made that it wouldn’t make a big difference unless fighting adverse conditions. After all, an argument could be made that the pointed end should logically enter the water first.
Just for fun, what kind of paddle is this and how would you orient it:
Glancing at the paddle in the post, I initially though it was the same style, until I saw the ribbed back and the Lure Hook. Last year, I had no idea what a Lure Hook was, and I never heard of a Wing Paddle. There’s never anything wrong with learning a tip.
My son tells his friends, “If you don’t know, act like you know.” I like the forum because you’ll always learn something whether you wanted to or not. Remember what Mama Jyak always told me, “Jyak, you might be dumb, but you ain’t not smart!”
Not caring too deeply what people think about me has been beneficial. If I don’t know something I tell everyone I don’t know. Those that do know come in t types #1. Those that are jerks but know the info, and #2, those that are not jerks and know the info. I am willing to learn from either one or from both.
It’s the internet… I come here to learn and to help others in those few small areas I do know what they are asking. But I am not trying to find neighbors or room mates here.
So let the jerks 'jerk away" and just smile and learn, and then move on to someone friendly. The Jerks believe they are showing how much of an expert they are and in some ways they may be right, but that’s not what the readership will remember. So in the end, those that try to “win” on line end up as the loosers. It’s a bit humorous in my mind.
Ask what you don’t know and quit caring who is the teacher. Just care that you ARE learning. If people disagree about something read all they write and learn from each one. As with most of life, not anyone knows everything.
I am very much a newbie in kayaking and yet because of 2 facts I have learned a lot in a short time #1 I get to paddle about 3-4 hours a day, 5 days a week and #2 I ask every question I feel I need an answer to, regardless of the fact it makes me look dumb. I stop being dumb (uninformed) as soon as I am not uninformed anymore. And that information is something that I can take home and build on.
There are about 6-7 members here that have taught me a LOT about various things related to kayaking and been very friendly. There are 3-4 other that I have learned some important things from also who are very concerned about trying to be “a boss” ----and that’s OK too, because I still learned what I needed to know --------and they still are not MY boss.
It’s amazing how much progress any program can achieve as soon as we stop caring about who gets the credit.
Neither did I a year ago. I kept hearing about the new hook paddle by Werner. Now nearly everybody makes them. The one picture in my previous post is less common. Maybe a kayak angler can explain the value.
Here’s a paddle that baffles me. Anyone who follows my posts know I’m an avid fan of Wilderness Systems. I found this paddle listed as a rec paddle, but it has a lure notch.
When I look at that paddle, it seems to me that the tip would catch and torques the shaft hard, leading to repeatative, nearly inperceptible stress in the wrist. I may sound . . . , but look at an airplane propeller.
After studying the airplane propeller, I could logical assume that the Wilderness Systems paddle is shown being used upside down.
I remember a post many months ago, “Convince me to Spend More Money on a Paddle”. After thinking about that debate, my advice is that if you don’t think there’s anything wrong with your paddle, don’t change it. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the opportunity to try different paddles. The difference could be shocking. Even with paddles of the same weight, the swing feel can be very different, the more efficient blade design will balance without torquing the wrist, have less drag, create less cavitation, be quieter. Just depends on how much efficiency you want. A light, efficient, paddle is the best way to enjoy a seamless connection between boat and water. I’m done.
