Double paddle..worth it?

When I first started canoeing, I took lessons with a single blade, learning the various strokes, purpose and times to execute. Most of my paddling was in a tandem, with a partner, so we took lessons on working together. One of the things that was covered was also fitting the paddle to the user, it was considered to be a very important part of the process, there was an initial fit, then some room to tweak as we all aren't the same.

When I started soloing I again revisited strokes and did more practicing, to again make things work together and again tweaked the single paddle fit for purpose.

When I decided to try twin paddles, I took instruction and did a lot of research into strokes, paddles design and what sort of canoe they were best suited too. Then I went out fitted a paddle to my needs and practiced to become proficient with the new tool. I will admit I tweaked the design on subsequent paddles to better fit my style.

Contrary to what some folks believe, the double paddle is not the devils work, it is just a tool, good for some things, better for some things and not good for some things. The one thing that is constant between the two paddle types is that they require knowledge, skill and practice to use effectively.

This is exactly true of the single blade as well, it is a tool ... good for some things, better for some things and not good for some things, it is equally lackluster in the hands of some one with out the skill and knowledge to wield it effectively.

I suspect that the majority of folks commenting here have taken some instruction on the various aspects of using single blade paddles, the strokes, how to fit for use, blade shapes etc and have put in the work to be reasonably proficient.

What I wonder, is for those commenting negatively about the double blades, how many have taken instruction, fitted the paddle and put in the work to be proficient? And how many just decided to try a double blade, with little prep, and got disappointed? There are no short cuts, both blades need the work to be put in to be effective.

Back to the original question, Blukanu .... the double is not a magic wand ... it is simply a paddling tool you will need to learn how to use. The better you fit it to your purpose and learn how and when to use it, the more useful it will be.

I can and do use both types and believe I am reasonably proficient with both. I do not get wet, I do not sprint, I do not fatigue unduly with either. I do find the twin better for a narrow solo craft (think 26" at waterline or less) for eating up the kilometers, at a steady pace and for traveling in heavy weather. I find for landing, streams and fishing, I prefer a single blade as I think you can finesse the canoe better/easier.

Brian

I’m wondering if I should get a double paddle.

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No.

Yes.

"Yes" because I'm too slow a typist to produce a logical and balanced reply like Brian (Cruiser).

I have primarily used a double blade on my northern trips (2-3 weeks) for the past 33 years. I wish I had started using one earlier. I have a background in, and received instruction in, both Canadian style paddling and whitewater with a single blade. I am not using a double blade because I can't use a single: I'm using a double because it works better for me and is easier on my wrists.

My current double is a 260 cm Bending Branches Slice. It's no longer on their website, but looks pretty much identical to their "Angler Classic Snap Button". Weight about 36 ounces. At 74 years old, 5'8" and 170 pounds, I don't find that heavy. Nor is it wet in my solo boats. Paddling a wider tandem, you may want to go to a longer paddle.

A few things I really like about it:

- a brace is always available, there is no off-side issue.
- front or back ferries in shallow rocky rapids where it's impossible to get a vertical plant with a single blade, or doing so risks paddle entrapment
- power into a steady headwind
- and, of course, ease of conversion to 2 short or 1 long tarp poles

I also carry a single blade as a backup, should circumstances require it: but I find they rarely do.

In case there are any single blade aficionados that I haven't offended yet, I'll finish by commenting that I think "sit and switch" must be the least aesthetic method of propelling watercraft ever invented by man.

In the end, of course, canoe tripping being an avocation and not a religion, you should do what you enjoy most. Isn't that what it's all about?

Cheers.

-wjmc

Contrary to what some folks believe, the double paddle is not the devils work

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What I wonder, is for those commenting negatively about the double blades, how many have taken instruction, fitted the paddle and put in the work to be proficient?

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The real question is why would I do that? I have no interest in the double blade. Sure, I went to the dark side when I was young, I had a river running kayak, used it for a year or two then traded it for two cases of Alexander Keith's Pale Ale. I have a pretty loose moral compass in most things in life, but for some reason, the double blade points south, the Deep South, as in brimstone and fire south, and I just can't abide it. My best buddy started using a double blade in his Clipper Caribou, I'm not judging, but I was disappointed. I'll paddle a Coleman canoe if I have too, heck, even a Sportspal, but I won't use the double blade. I'm not a complete luddite either, my solo is a modern design, I own a carbon fibre single stick, but keep that DDB away from me. To be perfectly honest, for me, it just ain't canoeing, and no amount of explanation will convert me.

In case there are any single blade aficionados that I haven't offended yet, I'll finish by commenting that I think "sit and switch" must be the least aesthetic method of propelling watercraft ever invented by man.

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I'm also in full agreement with this as well. May as well just use a double blade.

I'm not sure what is going on in my canoeing brain right now, but I find it wanting to return to the basics, I have a strong desire to build a modified Pal for my next solo, and I'm working on the ultimate Beaver Tail, and also a modified Ottertail as my main paddles. In a world of dynamic and overly fast change, sometimes the old things are the best things.

I do have a friend who spends most of his time in a kayak, and he uses a double blade when tripping in his canoe.


Works for him, and the rest of us with single blades have no problem keeping up.

I recently bought a sea kayak that I paddle with a 210 Werner Shuna paddle with no feather. A lot of things transitioned easily from canoe to kayak (bracing, boat lean/edging), but one thing that I have struggled with is developing a good low angle cruising stroke. It's been tough to get that high angle (vertical shaft) muscle memory out of my head. I'm getting there, but it takes practice.

If you have some experience with a double blade then I'd say go for it. If not, I'd try it first. When I started with a double blade my stroke was way too vertical and was all arms with very little torso rotation. It wasn't particularly efficient, and would probably be tiring with the long double blade canoe paddle. Personally, I'm going to stick to a single blade in my canoes.

I do have to say that paddling in wind and waves in a sea kayak is such a different experience than in a canoe. Paddling perpendicular to wind and waves without having to quarter, speeding down the face of a wave in a big following sea, popping down the rudder to adjust for wind. You can do things that I would never try in my canoe. It is a lot of fun even though I'm not very good at it. I do want to get good enough to do some sea kayak camping trips out in the ocean like on the Maine Island Trail.

Ok … at the risk of espousing blasphemy here goes …

I am a die hard single blade j-stroke, guide stroke canoeist. That said, due to some physical limitations of the youth leaving my knees, I can no longer kneel. This has left me a much less powerful paddler. I now require foot braces and a seat back. I can paddle in with my usual traditional strokes but I do now make a further concession … I have a very long Greenland paddle in my boat. When paddling the Wisconsin River back waters I can much better go long distances upriver with less effort using the Greenland. When on open water that becomes windswept, I make better progress ( with less effort ) using the Greenland. When I get tired from long travel days of open water and challenging portages I find leaning back a bit and “ Lilly dipping” with my Greenland helps me to cover large distances while my core, torso can recover from exertion.

I used to be extremely embarrassed having to admit I carry a double in my canoe. Although I seldom use it, I am glad it is there. With it, I can travel farther and in conditions I might not be able to handle with a single alone ( while not kneeling). I have come to the conclusion that if the Greenland double lets me continue to canoe in current and wind, then I am glad I have that tool. It allows me to experience the places in life that still give me tinglies.

Bob.

I took a double-blade and a single-blade to Algonquin once a couple of years ago - and found things a bit of a PITA to deal with on portages. The collapsible double-blade breaks down to what amounts to two paddles on a portage, so you have to deal with three. I usually bungee my paddles in the boat, so that's an extra set-up, but the double-blade paddles also seem more flexible to me, which means you cannot brace things against them or lash to them like you can a single-bladed paddle. A minor annoyance in the grand scheme of things, but an annoyance nonetheless.

I know I jumped to the dark side early in my canoeing life because of a work related injury to a shoulder. Back then you got eaten alive if you mentioned canoeing with a double.Grabbed a kiddie kayak paddle one day and found relief so ordered a 5 pound nine foot Carlyle double for $40 and never looked back. When I sprung for a Werner Camano carbon at 28 ounces it was another game changer. Day long paddling was a pleasure.

Works especially nice when bow paddlers tend to stop paddling or want to fish. Certainly traveled on days that a single blade would have kept ME windbound.

I find it easiest to cram the double under and over foot braces for portaging. Stick it where it is held tight and bungee if needed. It makes a great hand hold and very comfortable to hold the canoe steady on long portages.,

The only issues are paddling tandem with someone that is really good with a single blade. But we get that done too.

Some data and opinions from 2016:

What I wonder, is for those commenting negatively about the double blades, how many have taken instruction, fitted the paddle and put in the work to be proficient?

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I spent many summers on the Yough & Cheat Rivers in both rafts and 'yaks (but never canoes) and got pretty proficient with the kayak paddles. Bottom line for me is that I have better control with a single blade and it just looks and feels right in a canoe.

Certainly traveled on days that a single blade would have kept ME windbound.

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I've often heard this (that the kayak blades allow travel on windy days) but I'm not sure how that's possible. I mean, "windbound" to me is equal to "in danger of swamping due to conditions". It has almost nothing to do with one's ability to propel the craft. If there's danger of taking on water, stay on shore but, otherwise, paddle on.

In case there are any single blade aficionados that I haven't offended yet, I'll finish by commenting that I think "sit and switch" must be the least aesthetic method of propelling watercraft ever invented by man.

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Agreed but, like a kayak paddles, to each his / her own. I may look upon them with pity and / or disgust but I'll try hard not to show it.

Some data and opinions from 2016:

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I've often wondered about how the numbers would change over time given the demographics changes as the site grows. Might be interesting to repeat some polling every 5-10 years.