CANOE PADDLE INFO
supplied by 'Kayaks and Paddles'

Paddle your canoe with us!

Entry Level Canoe paddle.
Aluminium Shaft & Plastic Blade.

Softwood Children's canoe paddle.
Light and comfortable lengths available.

Dark Cherry Wood Ottertail (shape) canoe paddles.
Designed for Deep water canoeing.

Basswood Beavertail (Shape) canoe paddle.
A quality entry-level paddle for general recreational use.

Basswood Squareblade (Shape) canoe paddle with a resin tip for extra protection from hitting objects below the water!
A paddle for general recreational use.

Paddles for Canoeing are single-bladed suitable for use with Open and 'Canadian' (British terminology) Canoes.

The shafts are usually made using an aluminium or wood with a 'tee' piece at the end. It is common to have an oval cross-section reassurance to the paddler as to blade angle. On aluminium shafts a layer of rubber or plastic sleeving is usually provided to improve grip and comfort. Aluminium shafts tend to be less comfortable as the cold metal draws heat from the hands. Children's paddles are smaller and shorter.

The working surface of a paddle is the blade. Again, the compromise is between cost, weight and performance. At the bottom of the scale are those made from ABS plastic on a Alloy Shaft through to a quality range of laminated woods. The wooden paddles look very attractive and are very popular and offer a range of blade shapes for all tastes.

Paddle Length

The blades come in variety of lengths and should be chosen to suit the person's height and activities. A short blade will allow a faster stroke rate for quick acceleration whereas a longer blade will provide a more relaxed paddling style. For greater efficiency.
Canoe paddle sizing is generally based on a paddlers torso length and which position he or she is paddling from. Bow paddlers generally use shorter strokes, and find shorter paddles easier to work with. Stern paddlers and solo boaters need a slightly longer paddle to assist in controlling the direction of the canoe. A general guideline for paddle sizing for a bow person is a paddle that measures from the floor up to the middle of their chest. Stern and solo paddlers will find a paddle that stands up to their collarbone are generally a better fit.