extra paddle??

[OneBadApple]

we'll be mostly doing daytrips in our canoe but someday would enjoy the weekend/weeklong trippin thing my ? is...Do you guys ever take along a extra paddle when your out? ever had one break? ever lost one? who packs an extra???
thanx
OBA

[Canadienne]

I don't usually bring an extra.

I've never lost one or had one break. I have found a few though.

[pknoerr]

We usually have two paddles for each paddler for day type trips, but depending on where the day trip is, we might only carry one. We definitely carry spares when we do wilderness trips. Unfortunately, my paddles are too big for Laura to use. When tripping in solos we usually have a bent for flatwater, and a more durable whitewater stick, as the trips usually comprise both. When you are 50 miles from the nearest road and your only mode of propulsion is your paddle it's critical. Last year, one of my tripping buddies had his flatwater paddle disappear on the first day on the San Juan in Utah, and had to paddle the remaining 8 days with his whitewater stick. He was obviously bummed, but glad he had something to paddle with.

PK

[canuckcamper]

I always have a spare paddle aboard strapped to the thwarts....I've known two paddlers who have lost their paddle and once had a bowmn's paddle snap...enough to convince me to keep the extra around!

Kirk

[pake rick]

Well, we do usually bring along one extra paddle per boat nowadays.

We didn't always do that. :confused:

Then one day while doing something stupid-like pushing off of a beaver dam-we snapped one. :mad:

But, thanks to good ole yankee inginuity, a small hunk of beaver dam material, and about four pounds of duct tape, we soon had a superbly (re)engineered piece of equipment at our disposal.

The grip was a little cumbersome though.........for the next eight days.

So now we bring an extra.

One of Lifes Teachable Moments I guess. :D

pake

[houlibar]

Extra paddles sounds like a wise thing to do. I was wondering if solo paddlers ever used a leash on their paddles. But that seems cumbersome and even dangerous if you capsized and got the leash wrapped around your neck.

[Tripper]

I always take one extra paddle along on any wilderness trip I do. Most times it's just extra gear on a portage but it's not like it weighs a ton.

On one trip, my buddy broke his paddle. If it weren't for the spare only one of would have been able to paddle our loaded canoe for the rest of the trip.

I consider an extra paddle like insurance. Something you know you might need but never want to use. I'd rather have it and not need it than not take it and wish I had.

Dave

[Sweeper]

Roger that on the spare/boat.

Reading a book now that says to have a straight and a bent paddle. (when on flat AND whitewater)

[OneBadApple]

thanx guys!!! good enough reason to look for my new straight paddle....
oba

[OneBadApple]

tripper i just read your reason for edit...thats funny mine (spelling) suks worse.. but there is good reason for it and i either blame it on my cheap arse keeboard and this webtv or my graduate degree from ebonix highscool i went tooo back in the day hehe
oba

[Preacher]

Always. The extra is usually my bent shaft, but there will always be an extra paddle.

Once there wasn't. Six man trip and nobody thought to stow a spare paddle. One guy did a dumb thing, even as he was warned. He used the paddle to steady the canoe as we unloaded, wedging it on a rock downstream. Snap! Some splints and lashings and duct tape, it was still a pretty flimsy affair and he had 4 days to go with it.

One of my personal anxieties is when I lay the paddle accross the gunwales even on flat water. Nothing to stop it from sliding off with just enough momentum that I couldn't hand paddle to it.

They do break.
They do get lost and float away.
Porcupines love to nibble some of them, yumyumyum!

[canuckcamper]

I almost crossed over to the dark side this week....yeppers...double blades!...Crappy tire sells a cheap collapsible kayak paddle at $30 and I was so tempted to get it just to try it out, figure for thirty bucks I won't be out much if I didn't like it.....on a solo trip into Algonquin Provincial Park a few years ago (my first solo)
I got caught in midlake when the winds came up hard and fast...in under 10 minutes there were 2 foot swells with white caps from flat calm water. It blew hard enough to force me to shore and set up a temp camp while I waited out the wind....an hour or so later I saw another solo paddler midlake cuttin along with a double blade and handling the rough water quite well....never forget that image...water that defeated me and this guy just trucked right through it like it was just another day on the water!

Kirk

[Rhaslam]

I always carry a spare, and I don't tie it in either, keep it ready to use. I have broken several paddles, and also have had paddles pulled out of my hands in whitewater, or dropped them at a crucial moment...it's good to be able to whip the spare out right away.

[Hillbilly]

One of the things the other Ontario members did not say was that in Ontario you are required to carry an extra paddle under the Safe Boating Act.
Bill

[OneBadApple]

thanxs for all the advice on having a extra,and from reading this board i believe I'm in need of a straight shaft to go along with my grey owl marathon bent one....(spare)
prob either rutabagas black widow plus or the new bending branches espresso plus similar straight stixs...
oba

[Preacher]

I smell a paddle fetish.

[canuckcamper]

I smell a paddle fetish.




NOOO....thats just the smell of unscrubbed cheese!

[kayamedic]

One of the things the other Ontario members did not say was that in Ontario you are required to carry an extra paddle under the Safe Boating Act.
Bill


nope it does not call for an extra paddle. Government isn't that smart. Common sense tells us that we can drop one at a particularly bad moment so Bill's advice is wise.

here is a link. Note that it requires A manual propelling device or anchor(egad think of that on a portage) but not an extra.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/BoatingSafety/pubs/pwc/menu.htm

[OneBadApple]

clowns to the left of me... jokers to the right....

[canuckcamper]

...........and here I am stuck in the middle with you!

[OneBadApple]

:D sing it CC....and oh black robe enjoy the aroma... it'll get smoother once you get used to it!!!!
hehehe
oba

[canuckcamper]

:D sing it CC....and oh black robe enjoy the aroma... it'll get smoother once you get used to it!!!!
hehehe
oba

lmfao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kirk!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dave-S]

We always bring a spare adult sized paddle on our wilderness trips. Never on our local day trips. But the kids each have their own paddle so I suppose we have plenty to get by in a pinch.

[kayamedic]

From OBA:just got our second warning for improper canoe storage from our community manager...this is gonna get good

What exactly is improper canoe storage? And what is a community manager? Is that the dictator that says you shall not dry your laundry outside?

[OneBadApple]

:D yes mam you just hit the nail on the head he be the dic-tater....
i'll explain.....improper canoe storage simple it is leaned upside down against our trailer:D shame him for calling a canoe trailer trash hehe well long story short it will stay were it is until he makes everybody else remove there items that are to be properly stored in sheds rv area (which is were the kipawa will be flipped ontop of our popup and covered for the winter)there are swingsets,slides sandboxes bicycles all types of yard clutter that aint supposed to be and dig this right on the front street is a blue kayak behind someones steps tell me dic can't see that!!!!
so until were done paddling for the year or he has the grapes to stop by personally and let me explain why were not obeyin his mailed notes it'll be behind our steps leanin....
oba

[canuckcamper]

Anybody catch thatr Ray Mears show on OLN..."Bushcraft?". He has an episode where he paddles the Missinaibi River in Northern Ontario and has himself a tiny mishap. There is no doubting Ray's paddling skills or his bush skills but it was a real eyeopener as he had his paddle ripped from his hands. It was toooo fast to see exactly what happened, he was paddling some rapids making course sorrections and it looked as tho his paddle wedged a sunken log or rock...one second in his hands...next second gone! He had his spare ready and recovered the lost paddle in no time but it just goes to show how easy it can be to get yourself in a jam when you are out there! Great show by the way ....highly recommended viewing!

Kirk

[pknoerr]

I didn't see it, but I've experienced it. I've lost paddles (atleast until I could go back to get it), I've broken the blade and shaft of paddles, and I've even taken the paddle handle in the head from paddling in shallow circumstances or in whitewater. Things start to happen really quick as the water slowly gains momentum. Your paddle is just a little stick compared with the strength of the water. It's delusional to think that your paddle won't break if you subject it to tough conditions. It's not a big deal if you are on a day trip and loose or break a paddle... you can liesurely float to your takeout. But the odds get much more aganst you when your distance gets to be 50, 100, or 200 miles from the nearest road... and that's where duplication or even triplication starts to matter.

PK

[woodenkayakguy]

I always carry a spare. Did bowron lakes this summer,2 boats 5 people,= 4lake paddles there was some moving water so 2 whitewater paddles and lastly 2 kayak paddles, these work great in an open boat for a change in muscles or on windy days

[VoyageurNorth]

We take out an extra paddle once in a while. Most of our customers (about 70%) take an extra one on trips. And we usually suggest a "beater" paddle which is great for using as a fillet board so your knife doesn't get so dull, also cleans up easier than a flat rock. :-)

[Newanderthal]

For day trips, get a telescoping paddle from your local Wal-Mart. They are a bit short even when fully extended, but will get you back to shore if your paddle breaks.

For longer trips, get a cheap full sized paddle.

With any luck you won't ever use them.

[voyageur]

Don't even think of not taking an extra paddle, especially on an extended trip. Always prepare for a worst-case scenario when planning a trip and you'll have many pleasurable canoe outings.