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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Gear Forum Soloing with kayak paddle |
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07/12/2017 12:29PM (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I've heard suggestions to use a kayak paddle while solo paddling a canoe. I've tried doing that but the gunwales are so high on the canoe compared to a kayak that a ton of water falls off the blades into the canoe, soaking everything around my feet. Is there some trick to this or just part of using the kayak paddle in the canoe?
07/12/2017 02:05PM
There is a special interest forum for solo paddling and this topic has been well addressed there. You can use the search feature to find those threads as well.
In summary the longer the paddle and the lower the angle of paddling the less water while high angle paddling with a shorter paddle will get you wet for sure. Since I get out and wet foot at portages anyway a little water is no big deal. Setting the drip cups on the paddle at the right spot can help keep some of the water out. There is something to be said for how you bring the paddle out of the water and dragging water up vs leaving it in the lake and that is learning curve stuff.
In summary the longer the paddle and the lower the angle of paddling the less water while high angle paddling with a shorter paddle will get you wet for sure. Since I get out and wet foot at portages anyway a little water is no big deal. Setting the drip cups on the paddle at the right spot can help keep some of the water out. There is something to be said for how you bring the paddle out of the water and dragging water up vs leaving it in the lake and that is learning curve stuff.
07/12/2017 02:33PM
Ah, I didn't notice the special interest group forums down there, thanks. I did use the search feature and I didn't see anything that helped me. I'm using a 9 foot paddle, the drip guards are located properly but aren't helping because water is running off the blade into the canoe, not down the shaft. I've tried keeping the paddle low and taking the smallest strokes possible, but that significantly cuts down on speed which defeats the purpose of using it to start with. Just trying to make sure I wasn't missing something. I guess getting everything around your feet soaked is just part of it.
07/12/2017 06:41PM
Pretty much you will get wet, Work on the paddle as you pull it out of the water and see if a shift in angle or method will leave more water in the lake. I can paddle under most conditions and get only minimal water from the paddle. Under wind and waves getting wet is a given.
07/12/2017 07:07PM
Like bhouse46, I wet foot, so I'm usually wet to the knees anyway. I don't drip nearly as much into the canoe as I did when I first started using one. When I switch sides with a single blade some also drips into the canoe; not a whole lot of difference there.
07/13/2017 06:33AM
quote Wally13: "
I use a 90 1/2 " 230 cm Current Designs yak paddle for my Bell Magic. I was thinking I would be more comfortable with a longer 240 cm 0r 250 cm but the 230 cm fits my more upright stroke."
I think the tumblehome helps the shorter paddle. I don't have any on my solo and with the 240 I kept knocking the gunnel.
"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." --- George Bernard Shaw
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