Sorry to misquote you. The fact that I was jumping between paddle theads shows how easy it is to screw up communication. I am glad I let you know that I directed two members to talk to you about your test to hear your actual feelings about the Kalliste. I cant retract it, but I’m sorry to admit I also mentioned our exchange about 8 posts above where I said, “The [my] take away is that if he likes the 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.” Both of my posts were obviously a bad idea to mention your name or another member’s interpretation of any topic. I’m new to the forum and just got a valuable lesson. I sincerely apologize for misunderstanding our exchange. If you feel misrepresented by the above post, I deserve to get blasted. I promise I won’t do that again. Apparently I also jumped the gun on assuming the two blades were similar in cross-section. Too little too late, but your correction shows me I need to put my hand on a product before making an assumption about the properties. I should have had had enough sense that it could put you in an awkward position.
Doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Thick skin and no problem defending myself. No fears no tears cheer’s.
You have a good heart, and I truely value your opinion. You’ll see a post on the Carbon Paddle thread. To make a bad story “badder”, I went back to that thread to see the referenced post and first realized there is a similar User ID, but clearly different. “52” in itself should be a tip off. Not sure if I Had related to you or another member that I might be dumb, but I’m not smart. Thanks for good humored acceptance of my sincere apology.
Just do not like the feel. It seems to flutter to me as it is very slightly more buoyant than the fibreglass blade. Lots of friends love them, I do not.
That is why we must give a serious trial to different equipment to find what works for us as an individual - hopefully before buying expensive gear we do not find to be a good fit. But, sometimes that means buying and using and reselling a piece of equipment after a couple months if you do not like it.
That’s a perceptive observation. Due to erronrous assumptions about Greenland Paddles and the many comments about paddle preferences. I hope to try out paddle designs under different situations to reevaluate them. Thanks for sharing your observations. Your comment gave me a specific design point to evaluate.
Don’t get caught in the trap of paralysis of analysis. Go try something and learn from the experience. Hopefully it doesn’t cost you too much…it is why lots of us like to buy used kayak equipment first as we can usually resell for minimal loss if not resell for the same price we bought it used.
Great idea, kayakhank. Fortunately, I have the storage so when I upgrade an item, the old gear goes into the inventory. To often, duscussion goes to tribaliism: my camp likes this, not that. The irony is twe are a tribe - kayakers, canoers and I believe some paddle boarders as well, because we share the same passion.
My goal is to share with forum members, and help my family and friends when asked for advice. I know what paddle I prefer. If I break it, I’ll buy another just like it. Done! I don’t need anyone’s opinion, because I tried different products. Yet life is a long experiment.
Your post about the Werner 100% carbon paddle interested me. You said, “I didn’t like the catch”. Since you replied, I’d like to know more about your test, such as the model and paddling style used. I’d also like to know what paddle and paddling style you prefer.
My interest is blade cross section. I speculated that the streamlined Werner Kalliste cross section favors a blade edge presentation. I wondered whether a paddle designed for tip presentation would benefit from the streamlined profile, or be a detriment. Your comment possibly supports the latter. Several members report a springy feel rom the foam core that gives liveliness to the end of a stroke; others find the feeling is a distraction.
The Camano impressed me when I first used it. After I upgraded to the Kalliste, I often switched back and forth. When someone joined me, I let the guest use the Kallist. At first, the only perceptible difference was weight. I eventually reached a point where the Camano just didn’t feel right.
Your post reminded me that my sudden dislike of the Camao happened after I started using a longer Kalliste and a lower paddle stroke. I plan to reevaluate my Camano in different attitudes. Any impressions are welcome.
The idea of pulling the paddle through the water is not that accurate. With a correct forward stroke what you are doing is planting the paddle in the water and then pulling the boat forward. Relative to the water, the paddle is not moving that much, and less for a more aggressive blade.
I use a Werner Ikelos, a bit longer than I should be because I got a $100 price for a paddle that was used for less than a few weeks by someone who didn’t like it. The extra length allows me to use it high angle and low angle when I get lazy or in very wind conditions. I use it unfeathered.
Excellent point, as you say, not that accurate. Figure of speech. If we had furniture pallets to ride on. We’d uses weights with handles to drag ourselves. I ran out of fingers and toes calculating optimum speed Like a boat, a propeller, a paddle. They have a point of peak efficiency. A propeller just cavitates after a certain point. Like spinning a tire. Waste of energy.
I try to see where I insert the paddle in the water and see how much it is slipping when I pull it. I use things floating or a bubble as a gauge. Mostly as stated above your pulling the boat to the paddle. May be fun to have a camera record it. Maybe a GoPro on the shaft.
Some props are small but do incredible rpm’s 13,000 and more. To much cavitation / slippage eats the prop.
To your point, my son-in-law change to a slighy different prop when his was damaged. You could hear and feel it was wrong. It spun up, but the boat didn’t move.
I ilnitially favored power paddles in canoes, but you could feel the boat fall of in the glide. We’d see an old couple just drifting along effortlessly. We we young and strong and didn’t care about wasted energy or a heavy paddle. Kayak differs in the fluidity of the paddle stoke and that’s why I tried higher cadence. It was lacking something so the shop suggested longer paddle. I’ve been happy with it, but comments show there are other options.
I agree with any comments that say don’t chase the elusive dream. Chasing it is the dream. That’s what I do when I go out. What else can you do but play with toy. If I didn’t, I’d still be on a 9 ft tub.
I noticed something and wonder if someone has an answer. While on a business trip. I was invited to join a group on an outrigger session. About 6 people per boat. I thought a strategy would be alternate strokes., but the boT owner said everyone stroke together when tbsat happened, the boat would surge
Because it’s to long to not bury the paddle blade unless your hands are to high to stroke correctly and you’d be exhausted FAST.
Rinse someone must have had problems pulling shaft apart to many post to see who said what now.