CWTA - Resources - Canoe Basics - Anatomy Of A Canoe Paddle




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Canoe Basics

Canoe Paddles - Anatomy Of A Canoe Paddle

Canoe Paddle : What Is It?

Canoe paddles consist of three main parts: the blade, the shaft, and the grip. The blade is a flat, rigid sheet that pushes the water backward to move the canoe forward. It is attached to the shaft, which serves as the handle. At the end of the shaft is the grip, a small nub that prevents the paddle from slipping off the hand. The point where the blade joins the shaft is called the throat, and the end of the blade is called the tip. Because the blade does the actual paddling, most people use “blade” to refer to the entire paddle.

Canoe paddles are usually made of wood or metal, although newer models often make use of synthetic materials such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, or polyethylene. Some canoe paddles are carved or molded from a single piece of material, while others are made from separate parts glued together. A common combination is a plastic grip and blade attached to an aluminum shaft.

Canoe paddles range from 54 to 63 inches in length, and are usually sold in three-inch increments. A typical blade measures eight inches across and 18 inches from the throat to the tip. Rounded blades, also called pizza blades, tend to be wider at 12 to 14 inches across. The shaft can have a round or elliptical cross-section, with a diameter of 1 to 1.25 inches.

Canoe paddles have one blade at the bottom and a grip at the top, connected by a shaft. The throat is the part of the shaft just above the paddle blade. Some have bent shafts to keep the wrist in the powerful neutral position at the catch.

Blade Shape

Power Face – The face of the blade that contacts the water during a forward stroke.
Back Face – the face of the blade opposite the power face.
Spooned Blade Face – A curved spoon-like face which provides an aggressive catch and crisp response
Symmetrical Blade Face – The blade face is straight.
Soft Edges vs. Hard Edges – Hard edges offer quicker response, soft edges are more versatile and forgiving.

Shaft

Canoe shafts can be wood laminate, carbon fiber or fiberglass construction. They can be straight or bent shaft. Many have an oval shaped area on the shaft for better hand grip control.

Grip

Grip is tremendously important in canoe paddle choice. The wrong choice can lead to numbness, blisters or pain.

Wooden canoe paddles mostly have a roughly triangular shaped grip. Fiberglass and carbon fiber paddles have a T-shaped grip. There are other grips called offset and bulbous grips. Keep in mind the type of canoeing you do. T grips are great for demanding conditions of rivers, while the pear grip is more amenable to the repetitive strokes of touring.

Sizing Your Canoe Paddle

Most paddle blades are about 8 – 10 inches across the face and about 18 – 24 inches long. Selection of the proper shaft length depends on torso length and paddling position (bow, solo or stern paddler). Bow paddlers usually require a shorter shaft, while a stern paddler, with a longer stroke, go for longer shafts. If you spend a lot of time on your knees paddling, this too will affect the shaft length.