I have been a single blade paddler my entire life and probably will continue to be, BUT I would like to hear from you who double blade a solo canoe. I am not interested at all in getting wet from the paddle. If there is no way around that, then forget it. Let me know what you use. Cheers.

I use a 280cm with drip rings and rarely get a drop. Keep your paddle shaft as horizontal as possible and you won't see drips.

I used a 280cm Bending Branches Impressions paddle with my Wilderness and never got drips in the canoe.

Bought my Prism (first solo boat) at Canocopia last year and took both a yak paddle and my bent shaft on my 6-day trip this past summer. Only really used the bent shaft when I was fishing. The Kayak paddle was so just a lot easier, more efficient and less tiring to paddle with. Mine has drip rings on it and I just picked up some Yak grips, but honestly, I didn't get much water in the canoe. If I could only take one, it would be the Kayak paddle.

ic, and as i have read the longer the better, which makes perfect sense.

I get arm drip from a single blade. Double drips when I use a double blade. I find I don't like the double blade with my canoe. It's difficult to reach the water with an efficient paddle angle. I'm probably going to get a bend shaft single blade paddle for my solo canoeing.

+1 on double blading. I’m on my 2nd prism and still using my 1st Werner double blade paddle. Carbon shaft, Kevlar blades, light and efficient. A few drips here and there, but it is a waterspout after all. More than anything, I appreciate it in wind and chop where I get better control. Feels safer.

Big ol' double blade... But if you do get a carbon fiber... Go light as possible... They are more efficient, but you pay for it some. My shoulders are to shot to use one now, but I really enjoyed using one and for the dripping? It's it the paddles fault... It would be yours.... Correct size, drip rings properly placed, and form...

I use all three paddles with my Prism, Bending Branches beaver tail for traditional strokes, ZRE Power Surge for hit and switch, and a Werner 260 cm Camano fiberglass blade for fighting through wind, waves and paddling with a squirmy dog. The Camano is designed for low angle technique which keeps the drips to a minimum.

Me: Paddle a Prism with a two-piece adjustable length/adjustable angle Cannon yak paddle. The range is 230 cm to 280 cm adjustments. Yes! to all above postings. As I've posted in another thread, maneuvering thru choppy waters with a yak paddle is SO much easier maintaining balance and keeping the bow positioned correctly. Allows for lightning-quick responses when the wind is kicking up badly and wants to turn canoe parallel to trough. As well, when you get that wonderful surge of extra energy, you can work up a nice speed. Just for the joy of it.
Never had issues with drips getting me wet. Just set the drip rings proper.... dependant on your angle of paddling. If you are getting water running down your arm your paddling angle is too high. It's worth getting a good quality dbl blade right from the start but I appreciate that it's an investment which isn't an easy outlay if one is iffy about dbl blades. My first was a 230 cm cheapie. I keep it as a loaner when friends want to paddle my kayak. Casual, weekend-warrior paddlers don't appreciate how much a quality yak paddle can cost!
You can dip a single blade paddle in waters and move stealth mode. Not so much with dbl blades/low angle paddling.

Do it! I only use double bladed while in a solo (both Northwind and Prism) and would never consider using a single paddle again. The only benefit to the single paddle is that it is easier to manage while fishing from the boat.

I never noticed too much drippage, certainly not enough I ever thought about it.

WIPaddler: "I used a 280cm Bending Branches Impressions paddle with my Wilderness and never got drips in the canoe."

I use this system as well. I paddled with a shorter double-blade paddle and it usually soaked me evertime I went out. The important aspect to calculate are the length of the paddle sized for your height and the amount of freeboard your vessel runs with fully-loaded.