PLEASE HELP ME WITH WHICH PADDLE TO GET

[Lock and Load]

I'm looking for a sea paddle made from good old carbon fibre. In 5"5 and have just got a north shore atlantic RM. What length should I get?

I will be playing in tidal races
I will be playing in the surf
I will be doing extented trips
I dont want to buy cheep buy twice
I dont have much money

Do you have a paddle to sell to me?

Thank you for your help and opinions.
Kind regards,
Chris

[Ceegee]

First stop, try posting on the private sales.

In answer to your questions, I use a Werner (Ikelos bentshaft core) but they are NOT cheap. Lendal not bad either. Carbon costs period!

You don't say whether you want a high angle or low angle style, but I guess for surfing and tide race playing you would want a shorter shaft and bigger blade area - I'm 5'11" and use a 215cm so at 5'5" maybe a 210cm??? You know the stand straight and curl finger tips over blade yard stick?

This is going to be at odds where you want extended trip paddling, and with the boat you are using which, being a bit beamier than some (22-23"?) you might need a slightly longer paddle than your height suggests. Large blade areas and a high angle are absolute killers for extended distances in windy conditions.

I use my Werners mostly for playing and short trips, my Lendals (Archipelago - smaller blade area) or a GP for touring, and a GP for rolling/playing.

For all the talk, try, try, and borrow and try what you can, maybe get a cheaper set that will serve as split reserves later in the meantime. I'd always go for splits, even on my main paddle, for sea kayaking BTW (so you can swap/stow with ease)

[Lock and Load]

Thanks for your help.

[PeterG]

Epic relaxed touring, we have both a very old 'hybrid' spec which have done really well and a newer 'full carbon' picked up as a bargain at Knoydart (did they mean to sell them so cheaply?). They are adjustable for length and feather and seem to do it all. Having said that I paddle 90% of the time with good old wood GP style.

[Lock and Load]

Peter G, thank you for your help. The Knoydart web site is unclear.

Do you know what price your thinking of??

Cheers Chris

[PeterG]

I think that we had a one off chance at Knoydart, it is worth calling in if on the way North. Although now that the transport caff opposite has closed, you can longer avail yourself of a meal at rock bottom prices to justify spending so much in the shop.