Kayak Paddle Blade Angle

An asymmetrical blade is relatively narrow and shorter on one side.

Kayak paddle blade angle.

High angle kayak paddles the blades of high angle kayak paddles are shorter and wider than low angle paddles. The high and low angles have to do with the angle your paddle pulls through the water. Bending branches snap button ferrules offer 0º and 60º angles. You can spot a dihedral blade by the rib down its center.

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. In high angle paddling the paddle is pulled through the water more vertically. 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. 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.

By giving both a left and right angle option users can choose which hand to use as their control hand. Asymmetry the asymmetric blade anticipates that angle and is shaped accordingly and therefore most often used as the choice of touring paddlers. Whitewater kayakers and aggressive fast kayakers use high angle strokes much of the time. High angle paddling requires a shorter paddle.

Paddles with short shafts and wider blades are ideal for high angle paddling as they move through water smoother and faster than longer 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. Low angle paddling is the most common style. That angles it so the surface area of the blade is more uniform when it s pushing though the water.

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. 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. Here s a full listing of aqua bound s high angle kayak paddles. The blades as you can see are asymmetrical for more thrust at low paddle angles.

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. High angle more aggressive paddling style suited to more demanding conditions or for generating more powerful strokes. Most paddle blades these days feature an asymmetrical dihedral shape.