The articles below are provided to give you information on a wide range of paddle and canoeing topics.

Canoe Paddle Length - Choosing the Proper Fit

by Joe Holz

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Paddling a canoe can be an extremely relaxing and satisfying experience that enriches your mind, body, and soul. A peaceful summer evening watching the sun fall below the tree line on your favorite lake while paddling a canoe can revitalize you as it melts away the stress of a busy life. However, not having the proper equipment can turn this picturesque setting and wonderful experience into a difficult and painful excursion. One of the best ways to ensure a pleasant paddling experience is to have a canoe paddle that fits your size and paddling style, and overall paddle length is often an overlooked key factor in paddle performance.

Choosing a proper paddle length can be very confusing and frustrating, especially if you are a novice or even a casual paddler. There are many suggestions and “rules of thumb” that you’d need several hands to fit them all. The main thing to remember is nothing trumps comfort when it comes to paddle length. If your comfort level does not fit a “rule of thumb”, forget the rule.

Proper paddle length starts with overall body size and, more specifically, arm length. The taller you are, the longer your arms will be. The longer your arms are, the longer the paddle should be to have the proper fit and length. There are several ways to get a proper fit, and I will discuss a few of the more popular methods that have worked well for me and my customers.

Broomstick Method

This is a simple method that works very well for most people that use it. The first step is to locate a broomstick or something similar to that. You can perform this method alone, or with a partner. If you are doing it alone, a mirror is very helpful. You will want to hold the broomstick with two hands over your head (with a similar grip/stance to holding a paddle). Using the mirror or your partner, ensure that your elbows are bent at roughly 90 degree angles. Once at the proper angle, make a mark on the broomstick on the outside of each hand. Next, measure the distance between the marks. This will give you your proper handle length. You will next start shopping for the proper canoe paddle with that number in mind. When deciding on paddles to purchase, pay close attention to the blade length. Most are right around 20”, but can vary. When you decide on the style you’d like, add the length of the blade to the length of the handle length you determined using the broomstick. This will give you your overall paddle length that should fit your size almost perfectly. As you become more experienced with paddling, you may notice that a longer or shorter handle will fit you better, so keep that in mind for your next paddle.

Seated Measurement

This is a very common technique to determining paddle length, but I find it to be less exact than the Broomstick Method described above. To use this method, sit on the floor with your back straight and tall. Measure the distance from the floor to the tip of your nose. This measurement gives you the handle or shaft length that should suit your needs. Add the length of the paddle blade to this measurement to get your overall paddle length. As I said, this technique is less exact, but does work well for the traditional, straight shaft paddles. With the newer Bent Shaft Paddles available on the market, this technique often is void since Bent Shaft Paddles are typically quite a bit shorter than Straight Shaft ones.

In Canoe Method

This method combines the Seated Measurement with the actual canoe you will be paddling. With the canoe in the water, sit comfortably on the seat as you would when paddling. Measure the distance from the water to the tip of your nose. This gives you the handle or shaft length. Add the blade length and you have your overall paddle length. This method is fairly accurate and is my second favorite method to use, behind the Broomstick Method.

Now that you have some ideas of how to find your ideal paddle length, you will want to keep a few more hints in mind before you go out and purchase a high quality paddle. These hints will help you to fine tune the measurements you have come up with from the above examples.

• If you decide on a Bent Shaft Paddle, these paddles are typically shorter than their Straight Shaft counterparts. Bent Shaft Paddles typically are available in sizes from 48” to 56” and are about 2”-4” shorter than a comfortably fit Straight Shaft Paddle.
• Canoe size and style can affect paddle performance and length requirements. In general, the wider and/or taller a canoe is, the longer the paddle should be to allow for the proper reach and fully submerse the paddle blade. A short paddle will require extra bending to fully utilize the entire paddle blade properly.
• Canoeing style also can affect overall paddle length. If you typically paddle in shallow, rough water, a shorter paddle is often better to avoid damage of hitting the bottom constantly with a longer paddle. Whitewater paddles typically have shorter, wider blades to avoid these problems.

Now that you are armed with this knowledge, you can accurately and intelligently choose a proper paddle length that will fit your size and paddling style (you can design your own paddle, including length at http://www.holzcanoepaddles.com/functional.htm). A properly selected paddle is a joy to use and allows you to be more efficient with your time on the water. You will get more out of each paddle stroke and have less fatigue if the paddle fits properly. Once you have your ideal paddle, hit the water and enjoy your own picturesque summer evening and watch the worries of the day melt away.

Laminate Wood Canoe Paddles - Strength and Beauty

by Joe Holz

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Plastic. Aluminum. Carbonfiber. Graphite. There have been many advances in canoe paddle material over the years, with the goal of building a stronger, lighter, more flexible, and more efficient paddle that gives you more speed and performance with the least amount of effort and fatigue as possible. However, in minds of many canoeists from novices all the way to traditional purists, nothing beats a finely crafted wooden canoe paddle. With advances in the construction technology of laminate wood canoe paddles, paddle makers are able to achieve a wonderful mix of beauty, strength, flexibility, balance, and overall weight.

Wood canoe paddles have been around as long as canoes themselves. The first paddles were little more than sticks and tree branches carved to form a paddle. Wood paddles available on the market today range from the traditional solid blocks of wood carved and shaped into a usable tool to laminated paddle designs.

Laminate wood canoe paddles come in various shapes and sizes to fit a wide range of paddlers and paddling styles. While many construction techniques are used, the basic concepts are the same . . . glue many thin strips of wood together to form the grip, shaft, throat, and blade.

A laminate canoe paddle offers several advantages over the solid wood paddles. First, during the construction process, the paddle can be shaped into various designs. Since the wood strips are thin, they can be easily bent without the use of steam and can be formed into many angles and shapes. This allows for new variations of paddle designs like Bent Shaft and Double Bent Shaft paddles. Bent shaft paddles keep the paddle face perpendicular to the water for a longer portion of the paddle stroke, making for a more efficient stroke.

The overall strength to weight ratio of a laminate wood canoe paddle is also an important advantage. By gluing many thin pieces of wood together, paddle makers can take advantage of multiple grains of wood with the glue barrier making a stronger bond and adhesion than the wood itself. With this process, lighter weight wood can be formed into very strong paddles. Paddle blades can be thin, allowing for flexibility and can be covered with fiberglass to add strength while maintaining very light overall weight from as little as 14 oz. A paddle carved out of a single piece of wood must be made from heavier, stronger stock in order to keep from breaking and typically weigh 2-3 lbs. Also, solid wood paddles are more prone to splitting than laminate paddles.

Beauty is also a major draw for laminate canoe paddles. By layering and using strips from multiple pieces of lumber, unique wood grains, colors, and shades can be integrated into a gorgeous work of art that not only functions with superior performance, but also is a joy to view. Laminate canoe paddles not only function beautifully, but add style and grace to your voyage.

Laminate wood canoe paddles offer the best of both worlds with the tradition and comfort of wood construction with the superior strength and new designs allowed from advances in adhesives and fiberglass. These paddles are not only a wonderfully comfortable and useful tools on the water, but also beautiful works of art that are fine enough to adorn your home or cabin wall while not on the water.

The Best Canoe Paddle - Choosing the Correct Features for Your Size & Paddling Style

By Joe Holz

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Not all canoe paddles are created equal and when it comes to your time on the water, having a paddle that fits your size and paddling style is essential to a comfortable and enjoyable time. Canoe paddles come in many shapes, sizes, and styles, but there are a few common features all paddles share . . . Grip, Shaft Angle, Length, Blade Shape, and Blade Design. The best paddle available is the on that is the best fit for you and allows you to paddle longer with less fatigue and pain.

Grip

The style of grip on a canoe paddle is one of the most important features to think about before purchasing a paddle. You will be holding onto this grip all day long, so a grip that fits your hand and paddling style is essential to comfort and reducing the risk of painful blisters and muscle cramps. There are many variations of grips available with some of the most common being T Grip, Asymmetrical Grips, Palm Grips, and Guide Style Grips. There are also many variations of these that have different names.

Each grip has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, some advantages for the paddle maker (ex. saving time) can be a disadvantage to your comfort. Choose a grip that fits your hand and style of paddling. If you like to have a tight grip, a T Grip may be your best choice. If you like to have a larger, looser grip one of the other styles may be the best choice. Personally, I have found that the T Grip, Front Facing Asymmetrical, and Back Facing Asymmetrical Grips are the most comfortable and ergonomically correct grips.

Shaft Angle

Straight shaft paddles had been the only game in town for a long time, and as the name indicates, it is a straight paddle. This is a very functional paddle, but as techniques advanced, there are now more options in shaft angles. A Bent Shaft Paddle has a slight bend at the throat of the paddle where the blade starts and the shaft ends. With a bend in the paddle, the blade stays perpendicular to the water for a larger portion of the paddle stroke, which makes it a more efficient paddle stroke.

The angle can vary, but most are between 5 & 20 degrees. Basically, the steeper the angle, the more power is transmitted in the paddle stroke. However, shaft angle is greatly dependent on your size and the style of canoe you will be using, along with your stroke preferences. A good fit for most is somewhere in the neighborhood of 14 degrees. There are also Double Bend Paddles available. These have the bend at the blade as well as a second, smaller bend in the opposite direction just before the grip. This design brings the grip back in line with the paddle blade and can make for a more comfortable paddling experience.

Length

Paddle length is also a very important factor in having an enjoyable experience. There are many ways to determine the proper length (you can read more in my article “Canoe Paddle Length – Choosing the Proper Fit). You want to make sure you have a paddle that has a long enough shaft that you can have a comfortable paddling stance, but not too long that it adds extra weight and creates more work. Typically, bent shaft paddles are a few inches shorter than their straight shaft cousins.

Blade Shape

Blade Shape is also directly related to Blade Area, which is really the major factor. The larger the blade area, the more difficult each stroke will be, but more power is transmitted. Therefore, it comes down to paddling style. Would you rather paddle fewer times with more effort, or paddle at a faster RPM with each stroke being easier? The Blade Shape often depicts the blade area, but shape can also have other consequences. Rounded edges tend to hold up better than square corners on a paddle that is used often. Also, the smaller the tip of the blade, the quieter it will enter the water which can enhance the paddling experience. Blade Shape also depends on your personal tastes. Pick a shape that you don’t mind looking at all day long.

Blade Design

This is the one factor that does not affect performance. It is purely aesthetics. There are many designs on the market today. Many are very plain, but some are much more ornate and decorative in nature. With laminate paddles (read “Laminate Canoe Paddles – Strength and Beauty”), different pieces of wood are used to create a beautiful mosaic of a paddle blade that can greatly enhance the look and style of the paddle. It adds a touch of class and shows off your tastes and style.

The best canoe paddle is the one that fits your needs, size, and paddling style. Therefore, the best paddle is not a single paddle, but different for almost anyone. By researching and keeping these factors in mind, you can find and purchase the best fitting paddle for you. Designing your own paddle can also be an excellent way to add your own style and create a paddle that fits you perfectly. (You can design your own paddle at www.holzcanoepaddles.com/functional.htm.) Either way you go, having and using a canoe paddle that fits you will make for a much more enjoyable time on the water.

Holz Canoe Paddles

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