Is it possible to change the feather of my paddles without wrecking them? They're only a pair of Perception Zambezi paddles and I don't want so much feather, about 20 or so degrees?

Just want to know if it's possible and if so how?

Thankies =D

It is possible to heat up the shaft at the joint to the blade and remove the blade. It is a very delicate procedure and should only be undertaken on a paddle that you can live without. There is a definite likelyhood of wrecking either the blade or the shaft. We do it semi-regularly to repair or replace parts of paddles. The customer always knows that they may have to buy another paddle though. We are a manufacturer of canoes so work with composites all day. A paddle manufacturer may be able to do it for you with some garuntee that the paddle will still be usable but you would have to check with them.

taliesin38 wrote:

It is possible to heat up the shaft at the joint to the blade and remove the blade. It is a very delicate procedure and should only be undertaken on a paddle that you can live without. There is a definite likelyhood of wrecking either the blade or the shaft. We do it semi-regularly to repair or replace parts of paddles. The customer always knows that they may have to buy another paddle though. We are a manufacturer of canoes so work with composites all day. A paddle manufacturer may be able to do it for you with some garuntee that the paddle will still be usable but you would have to check with them.

Please be aware that a paddle assembled with epoxy cannot be heated so the blades will come loose!

If you are willing to shorten the paddle by an inch or two the easiest way is to use a hacksaw to cut off one blade (usually the left one as you want the right one to be level with the grip). Then use the same hacksaw (or a dremel or even an angle grinder if you're careful) to cut small incisions in the leftover bit of shaft on the blade. Use an old screwdriver to pop off those leftover bits, sand down a bit so the blade fits the shaft again and you're ready to glue the blade back on.

I always use slow curing epoxy glue, in the UK the brand would be Araldite. It's pretty final but when done properly it holds almost forever

I ve replaced a blade on a lendal paddle which was glued on with epoxy resin by using a heat gun carefully and rotating the paddle as well. Do not leave it in one place as this could ruin the shaft or blade!

after a few minutes you should be able to start twisting the blade in between using the heat gun .

Once you have got the blade off you have to clean off the shaft and the inside of the blade to give you decent even surface for the blade to stuck back on.

Play around with feather by gaffa taping the blade or shaft back on just to make sure u get on with it

This is a pretty pointless job if your shaft has two ovalised grips ie robson werners as they are put into the shaft at the factory for the desired feather. with one of these maybe try the suggestion in the post above but makesure you use something to strengthen the joint and use a good epoxy resin and let it dry completly for at least 24 hour before use.

Most manufacturers make split joints which can be obtained from most shops normally via special order.
Good luck