Paddle recommendations

[Fergster]

I am looking to buy a new paddle something a little more special than my entry level Werner skaggit.

I had been looking at either a Celtic paddle or ve paddle but it looks like ve are no longer making paddles.

My intended use is general sea kayaking, coastal exploration, a bit of rock gardening and working up and through my 3star award.

Ve had recommended their glass shaft and carbon blades Celtic are suggesting carbon shaft and either their nylon or carbon 650 blades.

I’d love to hear people’s views or suggestions. Cheers

[Mrstratos61]

I went from basic Skagit to carbon shuna. The difference in swing weight and blade size is dramatic

[Northern Blue]

I can’t fault my 4 piece Celtic Sea Pro, cranked carbons. I went for slightly larger blades and have been using 700s for the last couple of years.

[rockhopper]

Devastated that VE no longer making paddles. Best paddle I have used. Hopefully someone will be able to take over their manufacture.

Rog.

[twopigs]

4 piece Celtic wins over the Shuna ..... Continuously variable feather and adjustable length.

If you're going to buy a new paddle you might as well buy one which can be adjusted. Select your blade size with care. Big paddlers might be okay with the 700, but it is amazing how different the 650 feels if the 700 is too big!!

Carbon blades - that is a no brainer!

[Jim]

Carbon is stiff and light.
Glass is less stiff and a bit heavier.
Nylon is not very stiff and heavy.
Carbon/nylon stiffer than nylon and not as heavy.

An all carbon paddle (blades and shaft) can be hard work for a beginner because it is a very stiff combination, many people are better with a softer grade shaft - glass or a glass/carbon mix
Carbon blades can be prone to wear or splintering, glass a bit less so and Nylon or ideally carbon/nylon are virtually indestructible.

For most sea kayaing (deep water, nothing to wear your blade) I would say carbon blades with a shaft that suits you (tend to glass for beginner, carbon as you get stronger but find your own preference), but you do mention rock gardening for which I would probably reccommend carbon/nylon blades and same shaft choice as above.
If you go for Celtic 4-piece, you will be able to buy 'spare' blades so could in fact have a 6-piece paddle and choose whether to use carbon or carbon/nylon blades depending on the type of trip you are going on. Also if you later decide you want a stiffer shaft (I'll suggest glass or economy carbon to start) you could just buy a spare shaft, and once again fit either set of blades into it as appropriate.

[Kris_D]

I've had all three makes and VE is my favourite. Too bad they stopped! I knew they were designing new wing paddles, so this is surprising.
All three makes paddle nicely and apart from VE I like Celtic too. I've just seen a few break, they seem a bit fragile. Maybe coincidence.
My problem with Werner (I have Cypruses) is that they only come in two sizes: too small and too large (for me). I know people buy Corryvreckan's and trim them into "medium" but, come on... The centre joint; I've handled quite a few Werners and after a while they all seem to wobble. Plus, they easily get stuck and can't be adjusted in length.
There are other reputable makes worth looking into: Mitchell Blades, Epic etc.
I initially bough my Werners because they are incredibly light, but I later discovered that that a bit of extra weight (within reason) actually doesn't bother me on the water. I wouldn't get foam-core paddles for rock-hopping, too fragile.

[seawolf856]

Devastated that VE no longer making paddles. Best paddle I have used. Hopefully someone will be able to take over their manufacture.

Rog.

Me too. VE paddles are (were) the mutt's nuts. I hope my carbon Voyager will last for ever so I won't have the impossible task of finding something even close to it.

[charleston14]

I paddle a Celtic 650 with carbon shaft and sf polymer blades. I love it. What’s nice is you can swap blades later if you need to.

[charleston14]

I paddle a Celtic 650 with carbon shaft and sf polymer blades. I love it. What’s nice is you can swap blades later if you need to.

Though I absolutely would go carbon for anything other than rockhopping