Stress Relieving Paddle Design

[Black_Fly]

My shoulder is still pretty wrecked, and the wide paddles I’m using aren’t helping. I know there’s a lot of expertise out there. Prefer wood, straight shaft. I’m needing a paddle that pulls easier, lightweight, will work in rivers or lakes. Any thoughts?

 

[Gamma1214]

I understand the preference for wood but an extremely light carbon paddle with a smaller blade would be better for you IMO. They aren't cheap but they'd reduce wear & tear and keep you on the water.

 

[tketcham]

I agree with Gamma1214 on the carbon paddle. And if your shoulder is chronically irritated by paddling you might want to consider taking a break. (Ya, right. )

But if you want to continue canoeing and a wood paddle is your preference, I suggest a Grey Owl Fleetwood, which is one of the lighter wood paddles available; blade is 8" wide with a 20.5" length; 54" Fleetwood is 15.5 oz, the 52" at 14 oz.

Grey Owl Paddles » Fleetwood

greyowlpaddles.com

I'd also suggest going with a shorter length than you may be using. I'm 5' 9" (~30" seat-to-eye height) and am now using 54" straight-blade paddles and even 52" paddles. My left shoulder doesn't complain as much after going with a shorter, lighter paddle. the Fleetwood 54" is what I use mostly, but also use the 52" paddle if I'm in shallow water. (A 53" length would be ideal.)

The thing is, the Fleetwood isn't a rugged white water paddle. I've used it on short stretches of Class 1 but I'm super careful to not hit rocks. I have other paddles that I use when I'm going to be in rocky streams.

Just for clarification, have you tried using a double-blade paddle? I know several people that switched to a double-blade due to shoulder problems.

 

[ABT]

I have been thinking about a Sanborn Nessmuk and it may meet most of your criteria. It has a smaller blade than many all wood paddles, and is designed to compete with carbon paddles (but is still mostly wood). It is actually lighter than some carbon paddles on the market. It’s a bent shaft, but I’m sure they would make it in a straight shaft if you called and asked. If you’d like more durability they can also add more glass, etc to beef it up at the cost of more weight. I have their Minnesota paddle and it is extremely durable so far (but it does have a lot of glass and isn’t as light). I’ve accidentally dug it in gravel and bounced it off rocks several times and I can never tell it’s touched anything but water. Not the cheapest option though.

Nessmuk

The Nessmuk - An ultralight canoe paddle designed for comfort and endurance on long days of paddling.

sanborncanoe.com

 

[Alan Gage]

Which shoulder hurts when you paddle? The top hand shoulder or the bottom hand shoulder?

When I first began seriously canoe paddling I was using a paddle that was too long and I had poor technique (pushing forward forcefully with the top hand), both of which resulted in shoulder pain. In that case it was the top hand shoulder that would hurt.

Alan

 

[Boatman53]

That’s a good question Alan.
Jim

 

[clemency]

How about a Badger La Bonga? Although advertised as a "short powerful blade," I think that is more in comparison to their more traditional lake paddles. Only 104 sq in of area, in contrast to more traditional river paddles (e.g., BB Explorer at 124").

 

[Steve in Idaho]

I have been thinking about a Sanborn Nessmuk and it may meet most of your criteria. It has a smaller blade than many all wood paddles, and is designed to compete with carbon paddles (but is still mostly wood). It is actually lighter than some carbon paddles on the market. It’s a bent shaft, but I’m sure they would make it in a straight shaft if you called and asked. If you’d like more durability they can also add more glass, etc to beef it up at the cost of more weight. I have their Minnesota paddle and it is extremely durable so far (but it does have a lot of glass and isn’t as light). I’ve accidentally dug it in gravel and bounced it off rocks several times and I can never tell it’s touched anything but water. Not the cheapest option though.

Nessmuk

The Nessmuk - An ultralight canoe paddle designed for comfort and endurance on long days of paddling.

sanborncanoe.com

That's nice! 14 oz, and still a little less expensive than current all carbon pricing.

 

[MyKneesHurt]

I would think an ottertail or modified ottertail would be the natural choice. Robert Perkins ("Into the Great Solitude") used paddles that were anorexic ottertails, sassafrass sticks that were no wider than your typical Greenland blade. Some company I can't remember made a paddle called "the Quill" that was similar in width.

 

[clemency]

Some company I can't remember made a paddle called "the Quill" that was similar in width.

Fishell paddles.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Fishell paddles.

Kettlewell before that, just to jog @MyKneesHurt 's memory.

 

[BWCA66]

I have been thinking about a Sanborn Nessmuk and it may meet most of your criteria. It has a smaller blade than many all wood paddles, and is designed to compete with carbon paddles (but is still mostly wood). It is actually lighter than some carbon paddles on the market. It’s a bent shaft, but I’m sure they would make it in a straight shaft if you called and asked. If you’d like more durability they can also add more glass, etc to beef it up at the cost of more weight. I have their Minnesota paddle and it is extremely durable so far (but it does have a lot of glass and isn’t as light). I’ve accidentally dug it in gravel and bounced it off rocks several times and I can never tell it’s touched anything but water. Not the cheapest option though.

Nessmuk

The Nessmuk - An ultralight canoe paddle designed for comfort and endurance on long days of paddling.

sanborncanoe.com

I have a Nessmuk, actually the original prototype, it weights about 13oz, has a smaller blade than most and is easy paddling. That said because of the smaller blade it doesn't push as much water but I'm almost never in a hurry anyway. It's also nice to use as a stern paddler when your bow paddler is your younger grandchild so you don't always overpower them too much.

 

[MyKneesHurt]

Kettlewell before that, just to jog @MyKneesHurt 's memory.

Man, I can't even remember where my keys are.

 

[Black_Fly]

I should have mentioned that I have a ZRE Whitewater bent shaft that usually goes with me lake tripping. On rivers, I’ve been partial to a BB Explorer. Both suffice in shallow currents, but it seems like my shoulder might benefit from a narrower blade that is still durable for shallow currents. I handled a sassafrass paddle at Canoecopia that seemed pretty darn light.

Looking hard at this one because it is easy on the shoulder. Traditional beavertail shape.

https://sanborncanoe.com/sams-special/#product-reviews

 

[ScottS]

I would think an ottertail or modified ottertail would be the natural choice. Robert Perkins ("Into the Great Solitude") used paddles that were anorexic ottertails, sassafrass sticks that were no wider than your typical Greenland blade. Some company I can't remember made a paddle called "the Quill" that was similar in width.

I don't know the mechanics of your shoulder issue, but with an ottertail, the power comes on slow and steady as you progress through the stroke. It's a favorite of mine for smooth water canoeing

 

[recped]

My usual paddle is a Werner Bandit (all carbon), when I have any discomfort in my shoulder I switch to an Otter type paddle (I have a couple of relatively inexpensive wood versions). It's not suitable for major whitewater or shallow rivers due to the long blade shape) but weight is not much different than my Bandit and pulling less water means less stress on the shoulder.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Not wanting to kill an excuse for buying a nice new paddle - but what about just not paddling so hard?

 

[Black_Fly]

Not wanting to kill an excuse for buying a nice new paddle - but what about just not paddling so hard?

Yeah, that would involve learning something new.

 

[Black_Fly]

I don't know the mechanics of your shoulder issue, but with an ottertail, the power comes on slow and steady as you progress through the stroke. It's a favorite of mine for smooth water canoeing

You’re right about the mechanics of the Ottertail, but they’re are exclusively lake paddles, right? I need something for shallow streams and currents also. Currently using a BB Explorer, which is 23 oz, 118 sq in blade.

 

[Punkinhead]

Trolling motor?