Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 15:02:31 -0500
From: David.Miner
Subject: [Paddlewise] Paddles

     Currently, I paddle a Werner Camano fiberglass, 220cm 60 degree 
     feather paddle straight shaft.
     
     I'm looking to buy another paddle which breaks down. I've been looking 
     at an Epic graphite and a Camano graphite.
     
     I'm looking for recommendations, ideas, and opinions on what to buy.
     
     Thanks in advance,
     
     Dave



Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 15:32:10 -0500
From: Bob Denton 
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Paddles

I have a Lendal Carbon Nordkapp with a carbon crank shaft which I find both
comfortable, light weight (though not the lightest carbon paddle outh there)
and not particularly fragile.

cu     



Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 16:03:25 -0500 (EST)
From: Kirk Olsen 
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Paddles

I appear to be the only person on the planet who doesn't like the camano, 
I've got a 'glass take apart.

Of our 6 regularly used kayak paddles it is my least favorite.  My 
Lightning Ultralight is my favorite traditional paddle, and my wifes...

As for the camano I don't like the shaft texture, the feel of the blades in 
the water, the weight of the paddle or the durability of the blades, 
other than that it's fine...

kirk



Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 13:40:54 -0800
From: "Mattson, Timothy G" 
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Paddles

I use a number of paddles, but my favorite are from  Epic.  The Epic touring
paddle is wonderful both in graphite and in fiberglass.  The paddle really
grabs the water and lets you crank hard to accelerate quickly.  If you like
to race,  I also highly recommend the Epic wing paddle.  I bought this
paddle for racing, but more and more I'm using it as my general purpose
paddle. 

As for angle and length, take a look at Epic's new two piece shaft that lets
you vary both the feather angle and length.   It would be great to have such
a paddle so you could experiment and find the idle feater angle and length
for a given situation.

- --Tim 



Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 14:26:05 -0800
From: "Mattson, Timothy G" 
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Paddles

Nope, you aren't the only one.  My first sea kayaking paddle was a Werner
Camano.  I hate it.   When I use the paddle, it feels like paddling with an
overisized  butter knife.   I really need to sell it and get it out of my
house as I have no intention of using it ever again.  I like big fat blades
with lots of bite or narrow wooden greenland paddles.  In-between, narrow
bladed euro-style paddles like the Camano are (in my humble opinion)
worthless -- at least for the way I like to paddle.   

- --Tim



Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 17:14:05 -0500
From: "Larry Bliven" 
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Paddles

Hi Tim,

For your normal favorite boat,

 what's the lengths of the standard and wind paddles that you use.
and
what are the length increments for the Epic wing paddle?

Have you hit the bottom yet with the wing in shallow water? did it survive?

bye bye bliven

http://www.epicpaddles.com/welcome.htm



Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 18:28:46 -0800 (PST)
From: "M. Wagenbach" 
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Paddles

(delurking)

I have a Bending Branches Tailwind, which I've used about half a season.
It's a laminated wood paddle with a rather large and thick blade.
I like the feel and power a lot, and the price ($120 at REI).  After one
3-day, moderately hard-paddling trip, I had a slightly sore elbow on my
control side.  I am considering getting BB's narrower blade model, the
Voyager (I think), to use for cruising, with the Tailwind in reserve for
play around rips and other big moments.  The extra slip would also be 
nice when towing, I expect.

Has anyone used one of these, or both, for comparison?  Any other comments?

Mike Wagenbach



Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1999 21:56:59 -0600
From: "Larry and Janell Koenig" 
Subject: [Paddlewise] paddles

The Epic paddle is the nicest I've ever seen.  The glass version is =
incredibly light and the 3d cross section of the blade has no unevenness =
of stiffening rib to hamper its glide through the water when skulling or =
slicing betweeen parts of a stroke.  It's shaped, in cross section, like =
a fine wooden paddle. In addition, its fullness of blade cross section =
gives the blade itself a nice flotation. =20
I, too,  dislike the Werner paddles.  I don't appreciate the highly =
ovalled cross section of the shaft or the shape of the blade.  (For what =
it's worth)

Larry Koenig

- ------=