Rants on Different Paddle Materials

I've been noticing some funny trends at canoe and kayak shops. If you look at their paddle sections you'll notice that the canoe paddles (if they even have any out here in the west) are mostly made of wood but the kayak paddles are made out of every synthetic available. Maybe you can find a couple of wood kayak paddles but they are not represented in big numbers. Obviously weight is a big factor in a paddle purchase. Perhaps carbon and glass are more popular with kayak paddles because we have to hold the kayak paddle up higher than a canoe paddle and hold it in that position longer. Perhaps the tradition of the canoe and a wood canoe paddle just have a certain allure.

Wood does have benefits: Flexibility, Renewable, Easy on the Skin, Beautiful, Repairable. The water we stick our paddle in has flex, our joints have flex, so why not a paddle that has a little more give? Stiff and light is certainly efficient but does it put more stress on our soft joints?

For me, a wood paddle just has a certain magic in the water. I've also been having fun using wood shafted/graphite bladed paddles. Light weight on the ends but comfy on the hands! I've walked through a wood paddle factory and a composite paddle factory and the wood one is just a more pleasant place to be. You can't have too many paddles...I enjoy having some natural wood paddles in my quiver.

Up River Paddlin'

I think that most boaters would agree that the best way to learn about currents is to paddle against them. Just like the salmon do. The Cowlitz River is perfect for both salmon and kayakers. No shuttle vehicle. The perfect upper body cardio workout and skill builder all in one. I'll work the back eddies riding the up river current and then burst out into the current sprinting up to the next eddy. The more I paddle certain sections I'll learn every little bubble and rock that I can hide behind in my upstream pusuit. I find that if I paddle the same section of river enough my muscle memory takes me upstream to the furthest point I had made it last. Like a video game expert, I'm able to get to where I was last attempt quite easily but to make it past the next level takes a new found skill. I'll study the next pour over to burst over to find the easy water....and then....BAM...put every muscle and rotational strength into each stroke. But watch the shallow water or your paddle will explode in your hands. You think nails on a chalk board sound bad? Wait until you hear graphite and river rock collide. Once I can go no further, I play a bit with a nice eddy or surf wave and then turn to float my way home and enjoy the scenery and the anticipation of a hot fire and a cold beer.

The perfect fleet

I've worked 12 years on putting together the perfect fleet of canoes and kayaks for myself. One for every purpose. No compromise boats, only the exact boat for the right job. I remember when it took everything I had to buy my first kevlar solo canoe. I had the insurance check from the car my roommate crashed. Who needs a car in Madison WI? A canoe will get you everywhere. That boat started it all. Now I have spent the last 10 years helping people find the perfect boat while learning that for me it was a perfect garage full of boats. I know people who collect cars, paintings, stocks, houses and I think they probably get the same thrill that I get with a new boat. The neat thing with boats is that the buy in is one tenth the price of a car. They'll last a lifetime. And with every new boat is the perfect trip to put the boat to use.

Here is a shot of me and my best dog buddy Bamboo in a 20.5 ft carbon/kevlar beauty bringing the gear for the party. My friends were getting to the campsite by touring kayaks and shorter tandem canoes. I volunteered to be the supply vehicle. With the big canoe we could bring the pickin' fire for the lake side dinner hour. With the smaller cars making more and more sense these days, having a big canoe can still give you the thrill of bringing everything and the kitchen sink.