So, I've been looking at paddles for almost a year now - got very close to buying a Black Project Hydro last year but had a couple of financial things I had to deal with so it went onto the backburner (cars!)! I put a couple of posts up about the 'list' that I had and got some great advice.

Anyway, back to being pretty serious about a purchase again and am really splitting between the 2019 Starboard Lima 82, the Hydro 83 or the Trifecta 86. I've done my due diligence on the Hydro, but the Lima looks pretty good, particularly for the money. I saw Jimmy Lewis Boards posted how good they are recently. But also the Trifecta - are they as good as their popularity amongst 'pros' suggests they are? I've been looking at a Vector Net in the 86.

Thoughts on these 3 specific paddles would be awesome.

Out of that list I would choose the trifecta if you can afford it then 2nd hydro and 3rd lima. Though either of this paddle brand will do the job is just depends on the shaft type and flex you choose.

Just come back from Maui and used a Trifecta that came with my hire board and really liked it but also demoed a Black Project Hydro and was very impressed.
Seemed to have similar performance to the trifecta but also great quality and better value for money in my opinion.

Price wise the Hydro comes out as the most expensive at the moment - around $650. The Lima is $500 and Paddle Mad in WA has Vector Net Trifecta paddles for $560. This is why the Trifecta has come back into my thinking, as it seems like a pretty good price considering Surffx has them for $650 (ish).

I was tossing up between these same paddles a few months ago. Finished up with the Black Project Hydro 83 for the following reasons:
1. It is ridiculously light, strong and has a good rep as used by many top ranked paddlers
2. QB felt good but sooo heavy (even the carbon) compared to the BP Hydro
3. Couldn't get much info on the Lima, not as "proven" as the other two
After using the Hydro for a few months I have no regrets and I would recommend them to anyone. It is strong, grabs a heap of water for an 83 and is a lot easier on the shoulders than my old Kenalu Mana 90 (which is also a great paddle).

Hi Dynymar, how heavy are you and what is your tipical paddle trip (how many km/miles)?

The Ke Nalu Mana Carbon is really light and goes well with a JL board?

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TS5 said..
Hi Dynymar, how heavy are you and what is your tipical paddle trip (how many km/miles)?

Hi TS5, I am 76kg and paddle 5 times per week, sessions of varying lengths and intensities, around 50km per week.

Cheers

Pete

Thanks, Pete, I am looking at getting a new paddle and what you say sounds very interesting. Will call the local dealer Monday.
When you balance the paddle on two fingers, is the balance rather in the middle or rather towards the blade?

The Lima Ltd is just so much less expensive than the qb or BP. But my stomach tells me not to buy it because the swing weight is far too high. Anbybody has the same experience? If the BP was just not as expensive.

don't worry so much about the swing weight mate, these 3 paddle as described are nice.
value for money is the starboard though you might be able to buy BP at the same price and next is the QB.
in my opinion the QB is my choice if you have the dollar out of the three.

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TS5 said..
Thanks, Pete, I am looking at getting a new paddle and what you say sounds very interesting. Will call the local dealer Monday.
When you balance the paddle on two fingers, is the balance rather in the middle or rather towards the blade?

No noticeable swing weight with the BP Hydropaddle. If you can, check them outout. (btw I have no affiliation with Black Project- just love their gear)

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TS5 said..
The Lima Ltd is just so much less expensive than the qb or BP. But my stomach tells me not to buy it because the swing weight is far too high. Anbybody has the same experience? If the BP was just not as expensive.

Can't say I have ever worried about swing weights, balance points etc etc. They will all be different based on handles, shaft construction etc etc.
I guess my tests are :
Amount of cavitation when paddling
Amount of shoulder strain after a longer distance
Blade shape effectiveness
Shaft strength / fragility
Lima fails on 3 out of these 4 for me - but just my opinion

I like the 4 points that your 'testing' your paddles against. The challenge is the value for money - ie is the Lima so much worse (or is the BP or QB so much better) than the others that it's not worth the money? Or is it worth the money because it's not that much worse?

Reading the above back sounds confusing I realise!

I'm tending to lean toward the BP, at 6'4" and 85kg I think the 83 will be good, good be talked into the 88. I suppose another thing is I've never really had a crack with any of these paddles, so whatever I end up purchasing will be better than what I've got now and I'll never know how good the other choices would have been!

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Helmy said..
I guess my tests are :

+1 on these criteria.
I would add the total weight. I don't think the balance point is relevant for a paddle, but the total weight definitely is.

FYI. Black Project have 25% off today only.
The code is Maui25FootPlus.
Just ordered one myself.

That's awesome xurfxup! Quite literally just put an order through myself - brings the paddle completely back into the Value for Money equation! I ended up going with the Large 88, at 85kgs I was thinking the 83, but leaned the other way in the end. All good, and stoked!

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stubear said..
That's awesome xurfxup! Quite literally just put an order through myself - brings the paddle completely back into the Value for Money equation! I ended up going with the Large 88, at 85kgs I was thinking the 83, but leaned the other way in the end. All good, and stoked!

Awesome indeed! Great to share the stoke.

I got the XL Lima Ltd (91 sq in) with an S35 shaft now. Very happy wth it even if it is 540 gr at 202 cm. Was looking at the BP Hydro as well but in Europe it is twice the price of a Lima. Therefore not of interest in practice cause there are better paddle around for the price.

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TS5 said..
I got the XL Lima Ltd (91 sq in) with an S35 shaft now. Very happy wth it even if it is 540 gr at 202 cm. Was looking at the BP Hydro as well but in Europe it is twice the price of a Lima.

Hi TSS. How is that possible? I sell Black Project in Portugal and the Hydro Paddle cost less than the SB Lima (and is a much better paddle).

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Supnorte said..

TS5 said..
I got the XL Lima Ltd (91 sq in) with an S35 shaft now. Very happy wth it even if it is 540 gr at 202 cm. Was looking at the BP Hydro as well but in Europe it is twice the price of a Lima.

Hi TSS. How is that possible? I sell Black Project in Portugal and the Hydro Paddle cost less than the SB Lima (and is a much better paddle).

I got a quote from Germany and the UK (with delivery to Germany). What would be your best price for a HYDRO Race Pro 88
Stiff Shaft with delivery to Germany?