Hey all, I've got some questions that hopefully some of you will be able to answer:

In the last year I've been doing more and more creeking, and I am starting to think about backup paddles. The problem is, I don't have a huge budget, so hand paddles are looking pretty good, both in price and in how light and compact they are compared to a break-down. So. Now for the questions:

-How long does it usually take to get proficient w/ hand paddles? How different is it?

-Any safety concerns with having your hands strapped in, such as pulling your skirt, etc?

-It looks like they are pretty simple things- are the commercial, boating specific hand paddles the only way to go, or would the larger hand paddles that swimmers often use do the same?


Thanks,
Patrick

I have no experience with hand paddles but would a Lendal 4-piece breakdown paddle not fit into your boat? it has a few other advantages as well: you can lend it out to someone who has lost his/her own paddle (not everyone has experience in using hand paddles) and you have a nice breakdown paddle in case you want to take a paddle with you in a plane or something. Another plus: in case you break a blade you can easily replace it.

Lendal paddles are not overly expensive and very good (well, at least the original English/Scottish ones were and I expect the US made ones are as well).

Just my 2 cents.

Michiel

PS I have no connection to Lendal at all, I am just happy with a few sets of their blades.

what about primary paddle, what should i use?? thanks

I would look ar something other than hand paddles for creeking, I have seen very few boaters using them on regular river runs and never on real creek.

I use a Lendal for a spare for 3 reasons:

1st, it's 4 piece so fits in the boat well.

2nd, it is a bent shaft as is my everyday AT ATX

3rd, the fether is adjustable.

The last 2 are very important. If you lose your paddle on a creek and cannot walk out you are already are having a bad day. If you are a bent shaft paddler and your spare is a straight shaft your day just got worse. With the adjustable feather it will be good for any boater. I use a 15degree but most of my partners use a 30 and one flat.

We were in Chile several years ago and a friend who had been using a bent shaft, 30 degree for 10+ years broke his paddle. Hie spare was a Werner Rio with straight shaft, 45 degree. He suffered for the next 6 weeks, missing all his offside rolls and getting worked.

We use our spares about every 10 days or so, so we kind of know them....practice (when was the last time any of you did that with a throw bag?), Even thought the Lendal is a bent shaft without the foam core blades of my ATX the feel it totally different and again if you need to use it you should know it like the reat of your gear.

I also don't boat for Lendal. They are expensive. We have tried to make breakdowns out of older paddlers but in the end the Lendal is pretty bomber.

t

Thanks for the suggestions.

Sounds like the hand paddle idea fails. Oh well- time to start saving up.

I know several guys who use hand paddles on runs like Horsepasture, the Green River Narrows, Gauley, etc. The main difference is you don't have the reach that you do with a paddle, which makes lots of moves tougher. If you want me to connect you to one of them to have them give you a good idea as far as hand paddles, I can.

Yeah, that would be great if you could get me an email address/playak username.

Well, here in Portugal rivers are not that hard to do, or that dangerous. and i was thinking abou Werners Stikine, or Selects W1.

And on of the things that bothers me on werner is that if the paddle get stuck in the buttom of the river, i wont be able to see it and try to go and get it back. On the other and... some dinosaurs of whitewater kayaking tell me that with the kind of river i go to, an the reliability i need, that i will break the Select in to pieces in a flash.

So, beside that, what do you people think about this two, or even other options.

Hendri Coetzee does a lot of hand paddling. Read what he says here:

www.fluid-junction.com/blog/index.php/po.../10/06/hand-paddling

There is also a video in that same link.

And another video here which didn't look like a good time to me

read the article.... while on a nice narrow steep creek you are losing a boof stroke, having to look for the sneak around holes, etc...sounds just like what you would want in a spare paddle?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmm... conflicting reports. At the moment I'm thinking I will probably try them out on some easier stuff and then decide if it would be a viable alternative for a spare. Sounds like it might be fun to try anyways, so the worst case is I just have a new toy for the easier runs. Thanks again for all the input.

pliddell wrote:

At the moment I'm thinking I will probably try them out on some easier stuff and then decide if it would be a viable alternative for a spare. Sounds like it might be fun to try anyways, so the worst case is I just have a new toy for the easier runs. Thanks again for all the input.

Exactly! Have fun! I'm going to make my own hand paddles, should be fun