Watch the video to the end - There's a bunch of free stuff I'm giving away - and it's stuff you very likely don't have but might find very useful and helpful!
Any paddle is better than NO paddle. LOL That said, yes there are better paddles for various reasons than others. I take several paddles with me when I go out, and for different reasons.... I have my skinny water paddle (shallow and/or rocky) which is a fairly wide blade with a modest length (Bending Branches Explorer Plus); my classic beaver tail paddle with it's traditional shape with a longer length for medium to deep waters (Bending Branches Beavertail); my otter tail paddle which is slimmer and longer than the bever tail and used for medium and deeper water but for longer use and less stress (Fishell "Ray Special"); and I have my take down double bladed paddle (long) for when/if I need to scoot out of the weather or there is a LOT of wind (Aqua Bound Sting Ray Hybrid) . And I always recommend folks get the best quality in each that they can afford. You don't need ot get the MOST expensive, but if you go mid-priced at a minimum you will be very happy. And if you go super cheap, you will probably end up buying another later anyways and not be happy with it. I have similar paddles for loan when others come alone using my other canoe, though frankly they are not as nice... LOL But hey.... they are loaners and spares. ;) Bent or straight saft.... I use straight. It's just a personal thing. I can use the paddle in a wider range of strokes well than a bent shaft. Plus it's symmetrical! LOL Just dropping a post to help the algorithms. ;) Cheers!
Sorry to hear about your father. You can tell in your videos you take pride in the things you make and do. Obviously that was passed down. Your video on the bent shaft paddle has me wanting to make my own now. I've recently started refinishing some old paddles my father had in his shed. Continue making videos because the ones I've watched were helpful and informative. Thanks a lot, Cole
I just bought a used Rogue River Canoe. It’s like a bathtub in the water but I’m having fun. I am using the aluminum and plastic ones that came with it. Waiting to go to a good store and get a good wooden paddle. I love your videos!!!!
I bought my first canoe 2 days ago. I'm in the process of replacing the junkie river paddles that came with it. I'm using the bent elbow, rested on top of your head method to size. I think somewhere around 57 in should be perfect for me. You are a brave man for laying your paper notebook on the floor of your canoe, although there is not a drop of water anywhere.
Hey I appreciate your comment and feedback - however, I'm wondering what video show me laying my paper notebook on my canoe floor! I think I've done that a few times but I don't recall seeing it - not in this video anyway :) cheers,
How did you attach the handle to the shaft? Did you use some sort of pin going into the shaft? Looking at theT grip I am going to turn one pn the lathe.
The T-grip I made was a separate part I made from a chunk of 2x4. I flattened the top of the shaft so I could glue some pieces on either side of the flat parts and then I just shaped it with heavy grit on a belt sander and then finessed it with a wood rasp before using finer grit on a vibrating sander. All parts on all my paddles are held together with Gorilla wood glue which is eventually coated with several coats of a heavy marine varnish/urethane.
You don’t like the old elbows bent at 90 guide line for paddle length? That’s what I grew up with in scouts and I know badger still uses. Don’t know if that counts for the draw but thought I’d ask haha
Sure thing - I'll enter your name! Also, I cover the good ole "90 degree" method right here :) - ruggedoutdoorsguide.com/canoe-paddles-a-complete-guide/#90%CB%9A_ELBOW_ANGLE
My wife just got me my own canoe for my birthday. It's just a used Pelican but it will suffice until I find a nice used Clipper. I have spent a lot of time canoeing but the people I canoe with definitely don't put much thought into their paddles. I was ready to buy some $28 Feather Brand paddles at canadian tire but the finish was so poor I had to put them back. At MEC they sell Redtail poplar paddles that aren't very expensive at $45 but feel a lot better than the Feather Brand. Do you have any experience with Redtail? Is it worth buying a $45 paddle?
I have not paddled with a Redtail but they do look pretty good. My big issue is weight (as well as balance). If it feels like I could paddle it all day long, then I'd probably get it. I know that making my own with Home Depot construction 2x4s (or better yet, cedar) and Gorilla glue and finally a marine urethane, will give me a very light and durable paddle that I can shape to my own grip.
@Rugged Outdoors Guide thank you for the reply. MEC did have some really nice Redtail ottertail paddles that felt a little better and were still under $100 but I spend most of my time in rocky, shallow rivers and didn't think they would be appropriate for that. In the future I might try making one once I can commit the time to it.
If you find yourself falling backwards, cross your hands in the center of, and about halfway between your chest and your longest reach...like you're doing jumping jacks, but parallel to your chest. Then, slap the ground as hard as you can right before you hit...don't think about it, your body will let you know when. This will slow you just enough to keep you from hitting so hard that you suffer serious injury. It's going to sting your hands like heck...don't worry about that either. Everyone should know this because even if you are not elevated at all, you can suffer head trauma falling backwards.. Hands halfway out in front of your chest, fingers interlaced or thereabouts....slap hard just before you hit, you'll know when. I hope this helps.
Watch the video to the end - There's a bunch of free stuff I'm giving away - and it's stuff you very likely don't have but might find very useful and helpful!
Any paddle is better than NO paddle. LOL That said, yes there are better paddles for various reasons than others. I take several paddles with me when I go out, and for different reasons.... I have my skinny water paddle (shallow and/or rocky) which is a fairly wide blade with a modest length (Bending Branches Explorer Plus); my classic beaver tail paddle with it's traditional shape with a longer length for medium to deep waters (Bending Branches Beavertail); my otter tail paddle which is slimmer and longer than the bever tail and used for medium and deeper water but for longer use and less stress (Fishell "Ray Special"); and I have my take down double bladed paddle (long) for when/if I need to scoot out of the weather or there is a LOT of wind (Aqua Bound Sting Ray Hybrid) . And I always recommend folks get the best quality in each that they can afford. You don't need ot get the MOST expensive, but if you go mid-priced at a minimum you will be very happy. And if you go super cheap, you will probably end up buying another later anyways and not be happy with it.
I have similar paddles for loan when others come alone using my other canoe, though frankly they are not as nice... LOL But hey.... they are loaners and spares. ;)
Bent or straight saft.... I use straight. It's just a personal thing. I can use the paddle in a wider range of strokes well than a bent shaft. Plus it's symmetrical! LOL
Just dropping a post to help the algorithms. ;) Cheers!
Now there's a man who appears to know his paddles! Thanks so much for the info! Many blessings!
Sorry to hear about your father. You can tell in your videos you take pride in the things you make and do. Obviously that was passed down. Your video on the bent shaft paddle has me wanting to make my own now. I've recently started refinishing some old paddles my father had in his shed.
Continue making videos because the ones I've watched were helpful and informative.
Thanks a lot,
Cole
I appreciate you taking the time to write. You have my word I'll continue to do DIY, reviews and trip documentaries! Cheers,
I just bought a used Rogue River Canoe. It’s like a bathtub in the water but I’m having fun.
I am using the aluminum and plastic ones that came with it. Waiting to go to a good store and get a good wooden paddle.
I love your videos!!!!
Right on! I appreciate your encouraging feedback! Paddle on!
I take a double for when I’m fighting the wind because on not great at paddling, however I prefer using a single blade
They each have their strengths for sure!
I bought my first canoe 2 days ago. I'm in the process of replacing the junkie river paddles that came with it. I'm using the bent elbow, rested on top of your head method to size. I think somewhere around 57 in should be perfect for me. You are a brave man for laying your paper notebook on the floor of your canoe, although there is not a drop of water anywhere.
Hey I appreciate your comment and feedback - however, I'm wondering what video show me laying my paper notebook on my canoe floor! I think I've done that a few times but I don't recall seeing it - not in this video anyway :) cheers,
Actually I found an adjustale single blade " kayak" paddle. Im going to cut it down to reduce the adjustable length as a paddle length tester.
Very cool. I've never used one of those.
the paddle in this video looks like the one my uncle had.... wooden... i liked the grip... perfect size for me when i was a teenager
Pretty cool! I make a few paddles every year out of a variety off woods - great hobby!
The south shore of Lake Ontario? Where on the south shore more than the QEW.
I was sitting on a beach at Charles Daly Park between St. Catharines and Vineland.
How did you attach the handle to the shaft? Did you use some sort of pin going into the shaft? Looking at theT grip I am going to turn one pn the lathe.
The T-grip I made was a separate part I made from a chunk of 2x4. I flattened the top of the shaft so I could glue some pieces on either side of the flat parts and then I just shaped it with heavy grit on a belt sander and then finessed it with a wood rasp before using finer grit on a vibrating sander. All parts on all my paddles are held together with Gorilla wood glue which is eventually coated with several coats of a heavy marine varnish/urethane.
Great video thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Hi from Toronto
I can see Toronto from my house overlooking Vineland from the top of the escarpment!
When you're in really shallow/weedy spots, can you push off the bottom with a kayak paddle like you can with a canoe paddle? Like a gondola
true enough! I can usually use my single blade paddle if I'm in shallow weedy spots, but I suppose a longer pole is better just in case! cheers,
You don’t like the old elbows bent at 90 guide line for paddle length? That’s what I grew up with in scouts and I know badger still uses. Don’t know if that counts for the draw but thought I’d ask haha
Sure thing - I'll enter your name! Also, I cover the good ole "90 degree" method right here :) - ruggedoutdoorsguide.com/canoe-paddles-a-complete-guide/#90%CB%9A_ELBOW_ANGLE
My wife just got me my own canoe for my birthday. It's just a used Pelican but it will suffice until I find a nice used Clipper. I have spent a lot of time canoeing but the people I canoe with definitely don't put much thought into their paddles. I was ready to buy some $28 Feather Brand paddles at canadian tire but the finish was so poor I had to put them back. At MEC they sell Redtail poplar paddles that aren't very expensive at $45 but feel a lot better than the Feather Brand. Do you have any experience with Redtail? Is it worth buying a $45 paddle?
I have not paddled with a Redtail but they do look pretty good. My big issue is weight (as well as balance). If it feels like I could paddle it all day long, then I'd probably get it. I know that making my own with Home Depot construction 2x4s (or better yet, cedar) and Gorilla glue and finally a marine urethane, will give me a very light and durable paddle that I can shape to my own grip.
@Rugged Outdoors Guide thank you for the reply. MEC did have some really nice Redtail ottertail paddles that felt a little better and were still under $100 but I spend most of my time in rocky, shallow rivers and didn't think they would be appropriate for that. In the future I might try making one once I can commit the time to it.
If you find yourself falling backwards, cross your hands in the center of, and about halfway between your chest and your longest reach...like you're doing jumping jacks, but parallel to your chest. Then, slap the ground as hard as you can right before you hit...don't think about it, your body will let you know when. This will slow you just enough to keep you from hitting so hard that you suffer serious injury. It's going to sting your hands like heck...don't worry about that either. Everyone should know this because even if you are not elevated at all, you can suffer head trauma falling backwards..
Hands halfway out in front of your chest, fingers interlaced or thereabouts....slap hard just before you hit, you'll know when.
I hope this helps.
I can't picture it, but it sounds like it might work.