Posted by Cucamonga Keith on August 25, 2002 at 09:52:42:
I bought my 1st Yak, an OK Scrambler, in March and have been paddling the last 5 months with the 42oz., 220cm OK Asymmetric Rec(18" x 8") paddle I got with the deal on the Yak. Yesterday I bought a carbon fiber full tour(19.25"x7.125") Onno paddle. It's so light it almost feels like an imaginary paddle compared to my old one. The guy at the paddleshop said that virtually everyone he sells a kayak to uses a 220cm paddle and advised that I should do the same.
I test paddled both a 220 and 230 and preferred the 230 although it seems a bit long compared to my old paddle. It feels like I can generate more thrust with less effort with the 230cm than the 220, especially into the wind. I'm 5'10", use a semi-low angle touring paddling style most of the time and at high angle the entire paddle blade is in the water + about an inch of shaft. My grip lands about 8" from the blade.
I'm very pleased with the performance of the 230cm graphite paddle but it's a pricey item and so I want to be confident I'm choosing the best length. The paddle shop has said I can exchange it if I want to when I'm in San Diego again the first week in September.
If there are others here who are under 6' tall and use a 230cm paddle with a 26" to 30" wide kayak, I would love to hear your advice and opinions.
Thanks,
CK