With the manufacturers making narrower and longer paddle blades are paddlers leaving the overall length of their paddles the same or are they adjusting them when they change to the new narrower/ longer blades ?
I would have thought that you make the overall length longer to ensure that you get the full length of the blade in the water. I.e. Keep. The shaft of the paddle the same length as you previous paddle and then because the new blade is longer that would make your overall paddle length longer..

IMO you do need a slightly longer overall paddle length with these new longer and skinier blades.

I've been demo-ing on of the new high-aspect bladed from Ke nalu for a few days...I've found I wanted the shaft about 3cm longer than I have it with my shorter, wider blades. Seems a bit counter-intuitive to me but that's where it's comfortable, I'll go by feel rather than arithmetic.

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HumanCartoon said...
I've been demo-ing on of the new high-aspect bladed from Ke nalu for a few days...I've found I wanted the shaft about 3cm longer than I have it with my shorter, wider blades. Seems a bit counter-intuitive to me but that's where it's comfortable, I'll go by feel rather than arithmetic.

Sounds right HC with respect to what DJ posted.
Would be interested to hear your thoughts on the new KeNalu paddle as I am I looking at upgrading my own paddle and like the look of the new KeNalu.

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HumanCartoon said...
I've been demo-ing on of the new high-aspect bladed from Ke nalu for a few days...

I didn't think KeNalu have one.. or are you talking about their new slightly different one..

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DavidJohn said..

HumanCartoon said...
I've been demo-ing on of the new high-aspect bladed from Ke nalu for a few days...I

I didn't think KeNalu have one.. or are you talking about their new slightly different one..

The slight differences (higher aspect ratio and some other subtle stuff) make an amazing difference to the way the blade feels in the water.
When something is already really nice you don't want to go messing with it too much.....that's the approach Ke Nalu are taking.
Kind of like when you have a really nice board.....small refinements can make it behave quite differently, for better or worse depending on what you are trying to achieve.
The new Ke Nalu Ho'oloa blade design has achieved exactly what was intended......softened the planted in concrete catch of the other blades and provides more drive through the stroke.
Everyone who's got one is lovin' it
Radical departure from good design doesn't make sense.

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DavidJohn said..

HumanCartoon said...
I've been demo-ing on of the new high-aspect bladed from Ke nalu for a few days...

I didn't think KeNalu have one.. or are you talking about their new slightly different one..

We'll call it high-er aspect then