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Below is a description of each portion of a Greenland paddle and some of the other options you can choose.
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Sizing Length (Touring Paddle)
Sizing is pretty straight forward and is based on the traditional method of how tall and long your reach is. Have a friend assist you. Hold your arm straight above your head. Curl your 4 fingers as if you are gripping something. The distance from your imaginary grip overhead to the ground is the standard sized touring paddle for you. (This is just the traditional guideline. Add or subtract from that if your wish.) Standard lengths are 82" to 90". Custom lengths available.
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Sizing Length (Storm Paddle)
At first glance a greenland "storm paddle" may seem too short to use. In fact they are a highly effective paddle that utilizes a special "sliding stroke". They are essentially a standard paddle, with a "loom length" only about a fist width wide.
Standard lengths for storm paddles are commonly the length of your outstretched arms. (Which like da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, is also your height.) Custom lengths available.
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Blade Width
Blade widths are typically 3.5 inches across. With a Greenland paddle, you need to be able to grasp the paddle blade securly yet comfortably along the entire blade. Unlike the standard Euro blade you may be familiar with, the entire length of the paddle can be gripped for paddling or rolling. (Not just the paddle shaft.) Therefore, even the size of your hand needs to be taken into consideration. For simplicity, order either small diameter for short / small hands or regular diameter for normal and large sized hands.
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Wood Types
Available in a variety of woods. Solid one piece paddles are made from select clear redwood. Very light, sometimes as light as carbon fiber. Or the paddles can have additional woods laminated in for strength and esthetics. Our standard paddle is made of 3 layers: A Douglas fir center shaft & loom, with clear redwood blades. Also available in red cedar. See our order form for more options.
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Wood Layers / Contruction
Paddles can be made from multiple types of wood laminated together (LAYERS). Or it can be shaped from one solid piece of wood. See image below for different construction options.
Laminated wood paddles can be optionally outfitted as a 2-Piece "Take Apart" for convenience.
Makes a great spare!
- A - 3 wood layers / 2 Piece Take Apart paddle ($300)
- B - 3 wood layers / 1 Piece paddle ($250)
- C - 1 wood layer / 1 Piece Redwood paddle ($200)
- D - 9 wood layers / 2 Piece Take Apart paddle (write for info)
- E - 3 wood layers / 2 Piece Take Apart ($300)
- F - 3 wood layers / 2 Piece Take Apart paddle ($300)
- G - 1 wood layer / 1 Piece Redwood paddle ($200)
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Loom Length & Diameter
Loom length is the portion of the paddle you normally grip on a regular paddle stroke. The measurment is usually taken from the outside of each hand as you grip the shaft. The Loom area is also tapered to fit the diameter of your hand. While custom loom lenghts are available, the standard size will accomodate most kayakers.
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Shoulder Style
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The transition between your grip area (the loom) and where the blade actually begins could be called the "shoulder". There are two basic traditional styles for the shoulder. (Plus, we have added a third).
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No Shoulder. A very gentle angle bewtween the loom and the blade. Such that there is no noticable shoulder at all. The advantage to this style is in the "sliding stroke". As your hand will be sliding up and down the length of the paddle between the loom and blade, not having a shoulder to interfere as it slides past with not be any discomfort.
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Hard Shoulder. In this style, the transition bwteween loom and blade is very noticable. Not nearly as comfortable then the "no shoulder" when performing a sliding stroke.
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Smoothed Shoulder. We've taken an old idea and made a slight modification. We smoothed out and filed that hard edge on the shoulder. It's easy to hold and grip, easy to re-orient your hands to a standard position and comfortable with the sliding stroke.
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Finishes
Our paddles are finished with your choice of saturated Linseed Oil or a clear waterproof polyurethane. If finished with linseed oil, the paddle appears to be bare matte wood, as if there is no finish at all. However, the wood is sealed from water saturation. After time, the wood grain will raise along the loom and grip area. While this provides excellent traction for your hand, it does feel a little "scratchy" to some. This is actually appreciated by purists or more advanced kayakers. If you prefer the slick worry free surface, simply have it finished with polyurethane instead.
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| See our Order Form or Paddles In Stock |
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