Help with a Canoe Paddle Size

[kayakingdave]

Hi

I recently bought a werner NANTAHALA paddle and I am a little un-sure of what size to cut it to. I am 171cm/ 5'7" and pretty much 50% legs 50% body.

Has anybody got any ideas?

Dave

[Chris Bolton]

It rather depends what kind of canoe you want to paddle with it, eg, traditional open, SWWC, C1, C2, etc. (and there's no clue in your username!) - if you can post some more info that would help. Ideally, borrow some paddles at various lengths and see what feels best - then cut yours, remembering that it's always easier to cut more off later than to put some back. Which is a pity, as it's usually easier to learn with a slightly shorter paddle, but with experience you can get more out of a longer one.

Chris

[Adrian Cooper]

Rule of thumb: You sit in the boat in your normal paddling position, usually sit-kneeling. Hold the paddle so that the whole of the blade is in the water and all of the shaft out of the water. The tee grip should be between (vertically) your eyes and your chin. As Chris says, start slightly longer than you think, you can always cut it a bit shorter.

Saying that, I would still recommend Chris's advice of trying out a borrowed paddle to get an idea.

[kayakingdave]

Thanks for your replys.

I paddle traditional open if that is any help.

[Chris Bolton]

I don't paddle open much, so can't quote a figure, but Adrian's advice is the way forward. The point to remember for open boats is that you're looking at the length of the shaft, not the whole paddle, as the blade length depends on the blade shape. For C1 the blade shape is fairly standard and so overall paddle length is more meaningful.

Chris

[MountainDaze]

Top give you an idea I paddle SWWC and trad open, I am 6ft 2in and both my Nantahala and Bandit are 5ft from tip of blade to the top of the handle. Much of it is down to personal preference, some like shorter paddles for SWWC and some like longer. Start long and cut the paddle down if you need to. After all you can make a shaft shorter, but not longer.
G