Thanks, Posted by: pgeorg on Dec-23-12 2:52 PM (EST)
Glenn. I need to think a little more about this. I was looking around for a carbon fiber straight shaft paddle because I thought it would be tougher for use in shallow, rocky places. I had been using a B.B. Espresso with an edge guard until this summer when I broke a wedge shaped piece out of the tip. The paddle has been fixed but I am left thinking that I need a tougher paddle for those conditions. Being gun-shy after busting the tip on the Espresso, I started carrying and using a plastic livery paddle in shallow water. That does the job, of course, but it is really clumsy. Not having found a carbon fiber paddle that was suitable, for the reasons stated on the other thread, I started looking at paddles with shorter blades as one would assume that they hit fewer rocks. That's why I thought the Sunburst might do the trick (the blade is 17" long vs 20" for the Espresso). What I think I now know is: 1) Tough carbon fiber is not cored carbon fiber. 2) A symmetric solid carbon paddle with a straight shaft cannot be had. 3) Maybe I should not be scared off by one bad experience with a wooden paddle. 4) Perhaps, also, I should not be scared off by small assymetries in the solid carbon fiber paddles that are available. So... I will ponder some more. Peter