Hi all,

I am up for new paddle....despite liking the Lendal Xti Kinetic blade I am tired of them dropping me in the dwang becasue they are very poor quality and break for nothing!

My last paddle prior to the lendal break-o-rama was a Rough Stuff Kinetic.

I am looking at a 197 bent-shaft werner but cant decide on which blade for all-round use. I play, run and creek in about equal amounts so need a jack-of -all trades blade.

Opinions? I have an old Sidekick straight I'll take playing this weekend and see how we make out. I do remember not really liking the blade too much, found it fluttered...

I am 6'4", 225lbs paddle frequently.

Any experiences would be apreciated.
Thanks!

I've a set of 194 sidekicks, got them just before a fortnight paddling in France and absolutely loved them. Not done a lot of playboating with them yet though, mostly river running/creeking. I've used a set of players and I found them quite odd to paddle with, couldn't put my finger on it but there was something I didn't like about them. One guy I know who has a pair is thinking about changing his for something with a little more power. Can't comment on the powerhouses as I haven't used them. I would suggest the sidekicks cos you've got the playboating shape but with the big blade area for when you need some power!

sidekick for sure. iv got a player and its an awsum blade but could probably do with a slightly bigger blade as i do all types of kayaking ie playboating, creeking, surfing. if your gunna get a cranked one i would get one with between 15-30 degrees feather. i have 35degrees and the carbon fibre does squeek and rub a little bit after a while. its just a bit annoying thats all. il be getting a sidekick next so i think that would be your best bet.

At least your looking at a Warner! I have a couple of buddies who have started using the Shogun as an all around paddle and like it (I am leary about foam core paddles). I am bigger and probably have way stronger shoulders than you and I use the Sidekick as all around paddle. I have used it for several years without a problem...I have an older 194 that has had quite a bit of wear and tear but I still use it for play at spots that are hard on paddle blades(pushing my way up bony or shallow eddies) and have a 197 for more serious rivers. My wife uses a player. Its held up well too. The Powerhouse doesn't seem radically different from the Sidekick, but wasn't out when I bought my paddles. I have the carbon-fiber blades, bent shaft, and 12 degree off-set. I have another large friend who has used the same type of paddle for 3 years with 0 degree off-set and it is holding up to his regular abuse. Great paddle!

I have ruled the player out.....!

Thanks for all the opinions....
cheers
B

That's a no brainer unless you're a little boy or a girlie-man. You shouldn't have wasted our time with that one. Now, stop winging, buy a paddle and get out there and use it! You could even suck it up and use your old Werner or Rough stuff (must be nice to have enough cash to buy a 3rd paddle). What kind of post was the last "wah, wah, wah" one anyway..."I've ruled the player out!"

I see they haven't kicked you off this board yet?
Trolling the forums again hey?
How could I waste your time when you have ample?

I have less paddles than you have boats! Besides, this will actually be a fourth paddle...it is nice...I might even buy a wood shaft Mitchell HA

I might get a 189cm girlie man length, just so I can whinge on the internet:P

Yes, my friend they should kick me off the board for saying such horrible things...(for everyone else I consider Blyde a very good friend, paddle with him regularly, and he is a better boater than me in all aspects...hand paddling too)!

I do mean what I say about the sidekick though and you are welcome to try mine again.

I do have to many boats! Anyone interested in a RAD 195 or Large Flirt...both in mint shape ($600 Canadian). Maybe I should get ride of the Mega Rocker too according to another post Blyde made (I liked the imput on the post better than the one I got in real life...but realize you've had more time in your Everest now).

Thanks for correcting my spelling of "whinge." It's good to learn new things.

I would keep the Mega - nice boat that has proven itself running all kinds of water, it seems. I just prefer a bit of an edge as I don't run super pin-ball class 5 where an edge wont help. I am sure many would disgree with me, not that a dispalcment hull is only good for that anyway! I am sure many would disagree with my opinion!

The rounder boats like Jefe's, Salto's, Gus's and Nomads are great and well proven by many creekers who run really difficult stuff and expedition type trips. I would love to try a Remix 79, they look awesome for bigwater! Its just that some of the high-rocker displacment creek boats are not great for general rive running IMO. For example a good friend of mine went from using a Diesel as a highwater safety boat on the Clearwater in BC to using a Nomad on reccomendation form his mate. He hates it, and this from a guy who paddles more 'old school' boats like an old Crossfire than anyone I know. Its was not the displacment hull he didnt like but the overall design which he found unsuitable for big, pushy high volume rapids. Still a top notch design, just not his cup of tea. Similar comments about the CFS from 2 other guys, one being a good friend who thought it was great low volume creeker but didnt like it in bigger water at all. I paddled with a guy years back in Uganda who said many Dagger paddlers in Norway were swapping their CFS's for GTX's or Redline to gain some speed and handling on bigger creeks.

Most opinions about boats are highly subjective as we know. One paddlers favourite is anothers worst.....Oh yes keep your Flirt too!

Back on topic.... I would like to try that paddle again. Seems like the way to go.

PS bring your Mega to Jasper, Dave and I are thinking of maybe hiking into the Fiddle (dont need a creeker really) or the lower Dore (but that is far west, so might save that for on the way to CLW) or lower Astoria IF it has water!
Cheers
B

I paddled with a guy years back in Uganda who said many Dagger paddlers in Norway were swapping their CFS's for GTX's or Redline to gain some speed and handling on bigger creeks.


are you serious! the cfs is an amazing boat! rubbish outfitting tho. the GTX and redline are terrible. they are client boats. those dudes just need to paddle faster!lol.

Just what I heard...another friend in BC also didn't like it, saying the same thing about it being slow and corky; he too reckoned it was great in low volume creeks but not great in bigger creeks and rivers with more volume.

I dont know though, never even sat in one! They used to be common around where I paddle but I dont see any now, mostly Burn's, Jefes and Nomads in the areas I frequent.