Exactly! If you have time, or don’t paddle during the cold months, why not…? I got to make something of utility and learn a bit of paddle design and function from carving GPs (and also a bit of kayak design through building two Greenland style SOFs).
For me these days… I find myself not wanting to “spend” time making stuff. Right now I know what I want and I have the means to buy it. This gives me more time to just go out do it (with paddling, surfing or whatever that gives me my andrenline and/or endorphin fix).
Which is a great deal of the reason I love my Storm paddle so much. It’s not oval but it’s definitely shaped so it snuggles into your hand in the correct orientation.
and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I enjoy making stuff. A lot of people hate it.
We’ve just moved. Odds are pretty good I’m going to spend a year or so just building out my woodshop and not building stuff, except I’ll be building my woodshop, and that’s going to be fun.
I just emailed one of Gearlab’s listed retail partners in Plymouth, MA. Hoping they have some stock on hand so I can play with them a bit before committing…
I too like making things with my hands, but have a bit of a backlog…right now I need to get some bookcases knocked out and installed; buying a carbon paddle off the shelf works for me.
What length paddle do you normally paddle with? I can loan you my cedar GP to try. I go down to Mashpee every couple of weeks to see my son (actually, more my granddaughters). Can arrange to meet you somewhere convenient.
Ok. The cedar GP is 216 – shorter than your 220 Camano but longer than the Gearlab. You should be able to get a feel of whether you want longer or shorter from that.
My cedar GP has the same loom profile as the Gearlab shoulderless, but more cross section where loom transitions into blade. I actually prefer this because it offers indexing and a slightly more open and relaxed grip compared to the Gearlab.
Do you winter paddle? If so, I’ll bring down in the next several weeks when I visit Mashpee.
GearLab is a great product. I hope the shops there have a good selection in stock. The closest retailer to me is in New Jersey, at least 3 to 4 hours away.
A number of my friends also have long work backlogs. I just took the time to built a paddle because I got tired of building furniture. Now I have the pleasure of pairing it in my boat, in the water that I know. If I like the design or any of the variants, I might ask a custom paddle maker tp make one just like it in carbon. That will be cheaper than my experimentation to arrive at a Euro.
The cedar GP is my 8th carved version. Previous iterations have long found other homes.
If you look at the picture in my orginal post, you’ll notice there is more similarity than not between the cedar version and the orange Gearlab Akiak. The cedar is slightly longer and has tad more cross section at the loom/blade transtion area. I actually like the grip feel of my cedar version but like the shorter length of the orange Akiak. But, the length preference is pretty subjective on whether you are high/mid/low angle paddler and by the width of your kayak.
I’ll message you the next time I am heading down to Mashpee. If there is a mutually convenient time, we can arrange the drop off.
Sure. If you end up with the Gearlab and paddle a bit, trying the cedar GP will give you another data point. Reason for the different versions of cedar GP was getting to an iteration that I like because it’s a comfortable and “unconscious” implement in my hands. I don’t need to think about how I am holding, stroking or sliding as I paddle, sweep or brace with the GP.
As a point of reference of “right” paddle length for your intended usage, I am 5’3" and paddle a 22" beam PH Delphin. I am a mid/high angle paddler and find the 216 length cedar fine for just cruising around. But, when paddling and playing some small wave day, the 210 orange Akiak gets the nod for faster blade rotation/sprinting. On dedicated surfing sessions with bigger waves, I go with the 200 Auckaneck for even faster rotation of the shorter and wider blades. The shorter length really helps with “close quarter” interaction with a wave face. However, in just paddling around, I feel more “rushed” by this sort of automatic default to high angle and faster rotation strokes. In my head, I think I should just slow it down. But I don’t unless I am really conscious about it.
I’m in Sandwich frequently, as my girlfriend lives there. Between the two of us and her housemate, we have a pretty wide assortment of cedar GPs that you could try.
