HAND PADDLE QUESTIONS

[treehouse]

I want to make some hand paddles to carry in my kayak as a spare paddle in case i ever loose my regular paddle .I have asked 3 people if they are easy to get off if you have to pull your skirt and bail. ( 2 were not mainly hand paddlers. They just used them as a back up)one said they are hard to get off and he thought there plain dangerous and so had already given his away. the other said they were hard to get off. Both of these people are very good boaters. I asked another very good boater who is mainly a hand paddler.And she said they were real easy and fast to get off. Any opinion and info on this would be appreciated. I was wondering if maybe some styles of hand paddles are a lot easier to get off then others. Or if it is just from practice that some thought they were very easy to get off and some thought they were hard. I dont even want any as a spare if they are slow and hard to get off. I dont want to add any more risks on i dont need too .But i would really like some as a spare if they are fast to get off (and for sure every time fast, not only if you hit it right and its fairly easy not to hit it right. // And as for making some... was looking else where and some people said they made them out of a 50 gallon barrel. And some one else said they made them out of a 5 gallon bucket.I have both, but the amount of curve would be ALOT more if made from the 5 gallon bucket than the 50 gallon barrel. .And the plastic would be a lot thinner from the bucket. Can some one tell me which one of these should be used would give the correct amount of curve to the paddles. I imagine it would make a lot of difference .

[okieboater]

I have several different designs for hand paddles

RiverAholic is the best design and price I have found.
Check out their version for quick release
Make your own decision if these hand paddles will work for you
and
always test how they work with rescue backup before using them for real


http://www.riveraholic.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[treehouse]

Thanks so much Okieboater I looked at the link and i think the pro paddle quick off is how im going to go. Still want t free make them tho. I had thought about something like that. I was thinking 5 hole for thumb and all fingers. I ruled it out in my head because i thought you would be hitting your fingers all the time on rocks when paddling.But his design with the help of the flip flop type strap and just 2 finger holes looks A LOT better then how i was thinking.And it looks like there's a tube pad on top of the paddle for the fingers to be curving around and help hold it so the fingers just barely have to go threw the paddle. Do you have a pair of these by any chance ;or have you ever tried them? Thanks so much. This is how im going to go.

[okieboater]

yup, I have a pair of the new pro style and his old style with straps.

I like both styles.

In some situations, the old style work better for me in that they are a bit more secure feeling and I can kind of use my fingers and not worry about losing the paddles.

It is a matter of choice and every one feels different about the risk factor.

RiverAholic, my opinion, does a great job for a fair price.

I have seen a similiar design (in fact purchased them long time ago) that costs a lot more and work about the same as RiverAholic version.

Have fun. Gotta warm up a bit before I feel like hanging out upside down doing roll practice, but it will not be long.

[JTarver]

I will second what Dave said. Riveraholic makes good stuff for a good price. I like mine better than the more expensive models. ( I have the strap style ) and have used them alot over the few years Ive had em. Adds a whole new level of fun for surfing and holeplay. Mine have never been difficult to remove either.
Joe

[pnut]

Having hand paddled extensively on the ocoee (the only way I paddled that river for about the last two years I guided out there) my advice is this.
1) They will be hard to get off if you don't paddle very often with them and B) will be pointless to carry as a back up if you don't know what you are doing with them.

I consider hand paddling an art of sorts and is very different than paddling with a paddle obviously, so just cause someone is a good boater does not mean they will be a good hand paddler, and vice versa, I learned from the late great Stan Guy who taught me about everything I know about hand paddling. Point being I would advise practising takeing them on and off and then would spend some time with them on easier runs so that you feel comfortable with them for me the biggest thing was getting comfortable boating with something that was attached to my hand. I know lots of folks who carry hand paddles as a backup and never actually paddle with them and I think this is a very bad idea cause the last thing you want to do is try to learn to hand paddle in class 5, 4 or 3 depending on your skill level. on the flip side if you put some time and effort into hand paddling it will teach you a lot about reading water and using water to your advantage.

But the best advice I can give is find some that are comfy and spend some time on the water with them, and you will probably find that you will get used to them.

pnut

[bmartin]

All good advice. +1 on Riverholic products and I have both types pro and strap and prefer the strap.

On your practice hand paddle runs, I would suggest going to a an easy to moderate stream without a lot long pools or one of the shorter runs. Hand paddles can make a long pull seem longer.

[Renee H]

Speaking of hand paddles, Power Pawz discontinued making their hand paddles. I bought the last 2 sets from OOO and I have one set I don't think I will use. I was just keeping them for backup. If anyone wants them for my cost, let me know. 501-352-6804 They are still in the package - brand new! Oh and they are the blue ones - for play boating or squirt boating.

[treehouse]

Yes i realize hand paddling would be allot different than with a paddle. I think hand paddling would be harder and require more skill. Im sure theres many different aspects that i dont know never having hand paddled. But what is real obvious is you cant paddle near as hard, so you would have to paddle smarter. For me; and i believe probably for most people who are not VERY good boaters who are both very knowledgeable and skilled ; Paddling very hard threw rapids probably is the best choice for success . In less you are good enough to be able to paddle VERY smart instead of hard..I can see how it definitely could be bad to have to use them with no practice on any thing that was very hard for you .And definitely not dangerous. I plan on trying the hand paddles a few times on the St. Frances or the Nanny.Problem is I dont paddle much. Last year i just got up to the St. one trip for a few days. And made it to the Nanny and Ocoee once doing Nanny fest week .So i cant afford to use them much ,i need all the time i can get with my paddle ,as that will always be my real paddling method. Or i will not even be able to maintain where my level is at now with a paddle. If on any thing harder then the St. i would just walk around the rapids.But that is mostly possible .But I am not physically capable of dragging a boat out any seriously long or hard distance. And carrying it would not be even remotely possible . But Hand paddles would help tremendously to be able to get the boat and me down the river until i could get to a road .Even if i did have to walk around some rapids. I think there is a very good chance i would LIKE hand paddling on easier stuff.I think I would feel a lot more connected with ;and part of the river and water. But even if i like it allot i plan on sticking with a paddle, as i think i would be much better off with one. I can see how if you hand paddled allot the more secure strap on ones would be the best choice. But for me and what i want them for, the fast easy off is going to be my choice, I simply would not be comfortable and secure in knowing i can get the others off quickly. And i will not use them enough to develop this confidence with the strap ons. .