Kayak Paddle Blade Angle

Paddles with short shafts and wider blades are ideal for high angle paddling as they move through water smoother and faster than longer paddles.

Kayak paddle blade angle.

Some kayak paddles are feathered which means one blade is connected to the shaft at a different angle to the other a bit like an airplane propeller. The high and low angles have to do with the angle your paddle pulls through the water. You can spot a dihedral blade by the rib down its center. Most paddle blades these days feature an asymmetrical dihedral shape.

An asymmetrical blade is relatively narrow and shorter on one side. That angles it so the surface area of the blade is more uniform when it s pushing though the water. Speed power and maneuverability are important. Asymmetry the asymmetric blade anticipates that angle and is shaped accordingly and therefore most often used as the choice of touring paddlers.

High angle paddling requires a shorter paddle. The ferrule the joint where the two halves of the paddle attach of the paddle has three different slots that the button can clip into 60 degrees to the right 0 degrees and 60 degrees to the left. Low angle paddling is the most common style. The paddle is medium length of 91 inches or 231 cm that s probably its only downside is that is available in only one size.

When paddled at low angles the disproportion of the blade surface in the water from above and below the shaft line means uneven force and flow of water across the surface. High angle kayak paddles the blades of high angle kayak paddles are shorter and wider than low angle paddles. High angle kayakers are those who kayak for sport or speed like in competitive racing whitewater touring and trips with more intense water conditions. The ferrule is where the two pieces of the kayak paddle come together in the middle of the shaft if you have a snap button ferrule your feathering options are limited to the angles allowed by the holes.

The blades as you can see are asymmetrical for more thrust at low paddle angles. By giving both a left and right angle option users can choose which hand to use as their control hand. To check for feathering lay your paddle on the ground and look to see if one of the blades lies flat on the ground while the other is slightly angled upward. Here s a full listing of aqua bound s high angle kayak paddles.

They re designed to catch and hold the water for aggressive strokes propelling your kayak forward faster. Whitewater kayakers and aggressive fast kayakers use high angle strokes much of the time. Bending branches snap button ferrules offer 0º and 60º angles.