As A follow up, I received my replacement paddle from Aqua Bound today. All things considered they did an admirable job replacing it quickly!
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I canât even see what size the whiskey paddle blade is?
Blade Size: 7.8 x 16 in. (20 x 41 cm.)
Blade Surface Area: 95 sq. in. (613 sq. cm.)
Weight: 23 oz. (652 g)
If you go to the Aqua Bound website you can find the specs on all their paddles. The Whiskey is as good a paddle as there is on the market today for high angle paddle stroke. I think it is the lightest as well. It is available in both full carbon and carbon shaft/glass blade configuration with just a few ounces heavier. The FG blades are available in colors and are more scratch resistant. Carbon is a bit lighter and stiffer but truly the FB version is awesome and less expensive.
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do they float?
All 3 of my Aqua Bounds do.
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I researched the Ikelos and Kalliste at the suggestion of PaddleDog, I believe in another post. Donât recall which post. Whiskey specs clicked my memory.
Whiskey - 95 sq in blade, 26 oz. $379
Ikelos - 110 sq in blade, 26 oz. $415
Kalliste - 99 sq in blade, 22 oz. $414
Ovation - 99 sq in blade (18*) 20 oz, $510
Camano - 100 sq in blade, 26 oz. $289
On paper, they all look so close, it comes to preference and brand loyalty. Other than a few isolated issues, both brands seemed to be acknowledged as competent designs and have dedicated follower.
Assuming the weights are for the shortest length, the Ovation wins; Werner literature shows 20 oz, but one site shows 18 oz. That is a big savings compared to 26 oz; however, a Werner caveat warns: beware. weight savings comes at the expense of strength. If youâre not a powerful paddler, got a lucky day pocket with an extra $100-200, and have a weight Jones, you need an Ovation. To me, a weight range of 4 ounces is negligible for the price spread. Bent shafts usually go up a few ounces. Blade size is a personal choice. I like the Kalliste with a 99 sq in blade, and considered the Whiskey for its slighy smaller 95 sq in blade, which favors higher cadence. A closer comparison of the Ovation/Kalliste blade and the Whiskey blade shows that the Whiskey blade looks exactly like the cheaper Werner Camano. Which incidentally is the same weight. Lots of room for debate, more easy resolved by field testing; trade off with paddle partners. Thatâs how I check paddles. My nephew tried my Kalliste, preferred his Aqua Manta Ray. I said good on you lad!
Tried the Kalliste today after many years. It really was used by my partner. Personally I thought it was HORRIBLE. I took it out in my Extreme. It had near zero acceleration, faster cadence to go anywhere, widening my stroke for a bracing effect felt useless. Try and pull yourself over a wave and itâs not happening. I know now Iâll never buy a GP paddle to try one. Kalliste felt like paddling with an ice cream stick. Itâs going up for sale.
My nephew didnât like it either. It has 10 less sq in blade area. Thatâs why a high cadence. One of your comments triggered me to carry a wider blade when Iâm out in wave to accelerate. Not enough acceleration in the fraction. I agree. Thatâs why try to do 75 stroke minute. Personal thing. You got to feel it or donât do it. Good critique.
I paddle the Corryvrecken (mostly) or Shuna (when not using a GP) and have tried the Ikelos. I like the Wernerâs in carbon shaft with fibreglass blades. I do not like the feel of the catch when using the 100% carbon fibre Wernerâs with foam core. I learned on an old Aquabound Navigator 240cm one piece with fixed 90* feather. I like the older Aquabound paddles much more than the newer models/construction.
Holy buckets, Batman! That is about 20 more strokes per minute than me. I do about 57 strokes per minute but round down to 50 for the sake of math and my computing ability while on water. My normal paddle is a 205cm BS Ikelos. My back up is a 210cm BS Cypress and that additional length lowers my high/low technique some and slows my cadences a bit. 75 s/m would probably stroke me out.
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Kayakhank and 3meterswell. Probably my mistake for not making it clear I was paddling a 99 sq in blade compared to the Ikelos at 110 sq in and Corry at 113. Thatâs a lot of water to move. Kalliste was designed for higher cadence. I used to paddle pushing big water. Now I like high cadence. My first reps were in the 60 range and build to 70. After a layoff of several years, I started back and could hit 75. I donât do high angle, canât do it, but you could ask how you cadence matches theirs. Try paddledod52. Not sure if you are in the same class. But you donât consult a poor person to learn how to make money.
A forum is not an answer service. It a place to exchange info and at times debate. I posted info on another thread about Carbon Paddles or Is a Long Boat Faster Than a Short Boat; both topic are excellent. PaddleDog52 was interested in finding out about the Kalliste and tried one yesterday. He was unimpressed and defined the deficiencies. Sounds like you probably prefer his style over mine. Iâm happy because he independently confirmed my conclusions that I need to take a spare 113 sq in blade with me if I want to play in big waves.
Youâll notice if you follow paddledog52 threads, I believe he likes the Ikelos. 110 sq in. Since he is a power paddler, I wonder if he tried the Corry, which is a Weber on the same model but 113 @ 26 . . . 28 oz. If you like a big blade, the difference in weight is about the weight a a hamburger, without the bun. The takeaway is that if he likes th Ikelos. We both like the same blade profile, which directs me to inspect the blades to see if the profile shapes (not size) are the same. Regardless of paddle size or width, I like the Weber profile which is on their top teir models. Aqua uses the profile of the Weber Camano, a 2nd tier padfle in Weberâs lineup, for one of their top tier paddle. That doesnât impress me.
When paddling, one does not support and swing the weight of a hamburger 1,000+times.
I have a Corryvreckan 210 CM just sad it doesnât have a smooth face backâŚ
I put different patterns of solas tape on them because a few can get mixed up easily.
Dang, shoukd have know since you didnât mention it. I do favor the the smoot profile. Also agree a paddle is a tool. It depends on task, distance, price, durability.
HighDesert. I do agree with the hamburger. I swing it a lot which is why I would buy a light one if it cost twice as much. Doesnât matter so much if youâre piddling the marsh, which I do, but I still use my Kalliste because I got to go to the marsh.
Iâm curious if anyone uses a paddle to get to a destination, then switched to a better blade to play.
Kayakhank, Iâm interested to know what you donât like about the feel of the catch with the 100% carbon foam core.
Rap1962, I reviewed back posts and found you may have answered a question I had about blade design. I was critical of the back of the blade on the whiskey, being like the Camano. At one time I favored the Camano, then it occurred to me that I used a higher stroke while switching between the Camano and the Kalliste (not high angle, but higher). My question was whether the Werner profile worked equally for low or high angle paddling.
Your commentd made me realize I asked the wrong question. Real question is whether the shaft attachment actually matters on a high angle paddle. A smooth back is critical for low angle but it could be argued that the spine is favorable for tip first paddling because it divides the water flow more effectively and prevents side movement. Do you have any thoughts about that. Because it may be an asset rather than a design deficiency. Same could be true of a foam core. Is it good for low angle, bad for high?
Spine in the back does little because itâs in a vacuum as you stroke forward.
Low angle the spine makes a tad more noise but if you slightly angle the blade on entry itâs not bad
Interesting. Curious if thatâs why the corryvreken has a spine. Maybe they found it isnât a problem with tip first stroke, or helps stabilize a high angle stroke. Another post said they didnât like the feel of the catch of the full carbon Werner (smooth back). Noted that the Whiskey also has a spine. Itâs 95 sq in. But listed as high angle. Wonder what you think.
