How Do You Know What Size Kayak Paddle to Get
As well knowing what to expect for in a kayak, a beginner is also challenged with knowing what is the best paddle length to choose. Opinions vary slightly as to what is the about efficient length for a detail paddler although the range of methods is fairly narrow and commonplace throughout the paddling community. Determining the proper kayaking paddle length to employ is based on several factors, from torso stature to boat dimensions to paddle stroke preference. Before getting into those dynamics, a few comments on how lengths are expressed.
The manufacture standard is to utilize metric units to measure and depict paddle lengths. Tell a fellow kayaker you use a 72.22" paddle and you'll probably get a bare stare. Say you need a 220cm, still, and most everyone will immediately know – and picture – what length you are talking well-nigh.
If you lot are even so a piddling rusty on your innate metric conversion abilities, know this: 2.54 centimeters (cm) = 1". Go along this in mind when y'all are comparison the difference in length between a 220cm and a 230cm paddle. We are talking three.9"; that's slightly less than a ii" difference on each finish - out to the blade tip from the centre of the shaft.
Although slight, information technology can make a small-scale only accumulative difference when you consider the effects that could result from using a paddle of less (or more than) than an optimum length: compromised course, banged knuckles, inefficient paddle angle or ability face up contact and others. Multiply any of these by a thousand strokes and imagine the potential yous are losing each time you lot execute a stroke using a paddle that's the "wrong" length.
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Hither are the major factors that will ultimately suggest the proper paddle length to initially consider:
Body Stature
A good friend of mine is exactly my same height, 6'seven" alpine. We oftentimes turned each other on to new kayaks on the market we could comfortably lower our tall frames down into. Despite our equal height, most of the time a super fine fit for 1 was an uncomfortable contortion for the other. What's going on? My top is in my legs; his is in his torso.
The length of your torso becomes 1 of the elements when using your height to make up one's mind which paddle length will work best for you. About tables chart list just your superlative against various paddle lengths. Taking your body height into account as well can assistance reaffirm what the height charts suggest for a proper paddle length.
Kayak Design
Just put, the wider the kayak paddled, the longer the paddle needed. In lodge to keep proper blade placement in the water, y'all need to be able to reach beyond the gunwales of your craft while maintaining proper paddling course. Yous don't desire to be banging your knuckles on the deck, nor do you desire also much or too little of the ability face of the blade in the water.
Hither again, there are many variables that come into play. A shorter person in a wider boat may need the same length of paddle as does a taller person in a narrower kayak. Paddles in tandem kayaks by and large are longer than those used in solo kayaks and so on.
Another factor is the height of the seat surface in relation to the gunwales. Two kayakers of the same torso/summit in the same kayak may need different paddles if the seat top was different in each boat.
Stroke Angle Preference
Do yous adopt a high stroke that brings the power face closer to the side of the boat in a less astute bending of entry to the water? Or, do you like the lower stroking bending oft used for casual touring that puts the shaft at a more acute angle to the surface? The aforementioned paddler, in the aforementioned kayak, would employ a slightly shorter paddle for the old style, slightly longer for the latter.
Yous can meet that finding the ideal or optimal paddle length depends of a multifariousness of factors relating to the concrete shape of the paddler, ane'due south individual paddling style and the type of boat with which the paddle will exist used. These are all gray areas that limit any black & white statement well-nigh which paddle length you lot should choose.
On-Water Method
Past far, the all-time and ultimate method for determining that platonic length is to get out on the water and paddle using proper techniques in a kayak y'all volition be using with your paddle. Demo days are a great way to help you test paddle a kayak. Well-nigh reps will be able to advise a starting length of paddle for you to attempt. One time you discover a boat you similar, you may want to effort a few unlike lengths of paddles as well.
Testing a paddle will mean using proper form (body twist, upright posture, proper hand positioning, practiced forward and sweeping stroke styles, etc.). Y'all don't desire to choose a paddle based on poor paddling class. Of grade the beginner's form you lot've acquired could be the result of using an improper length of paddle from the offset.
As you tin see, information technology'south a matter of trial and error and seeking – and following - practiced communication from those more experienced.
Quick-Pick Method
At that place are two quick and fairly authentic on-shore methods for determining a proper length of paddle to employ:
- The beginning method involves holding your arms out, elbows bent at nigh right angles in normal paddling posture and grasping the paddle as yous would ordinarily. Your hands should be about two/three of the way from the center of the shaft to the shoulder of the blade.
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Select a paddle you call up is virtually the right length and stand it upright (vertically) alongside you. Reach up with your arm fully extended, hooking your get-go finger joints over the pinnacle border (tip) of the paddle. If yous can attain farther/completely around the top edge or, conversely, if your fingers don't even reach the acme, choose a different length appropriately.
By the Numbers
Here is a compilation of measurements from several paddle manufactures that cross reference height and boat widths to propose the proper range of paddle lengths to consider:
Choosing the right paddle length you lot should employ depends on many factors that are determined by your size, paddling style and blazon/size of boat. The more yous develop and fine melody your paddling and experiment with different paddles, the easier information technology will be for yous to determine what's the best length for your paddle. And if you are like most avid paddlers, y'all will soon take several in your arsenal from which to cull.
At present, deciding upon the shape of the blade, feathered/unfeathered and paddle weight and textile is a whole other related matter…
Exist safe; Have fun!
Tom Watson is an avid sea kayaker and freelance author. For more of Tom'southward paddling tips and gear reviews go to his website: www.wavetameradventures.com He has written 2 books, "Kids Gone Paddlin" and "How to Think Like A Survivor" that are bachelor on Amazon.com.
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Source: https://paddling.com/learn/kayak-paddle-length-how-to-pick-the-right-size
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