FS Digest

Hi

Advice....Went out on Tempe Town Lake for the maiden voyage. Man did I have continuous water dripping from included Lifetime brand oar. Then there is the scupper issue....

I think my issue is the length of the paddle. A quick Google of 'what is the right paddle is right for me' left me overwhelmed. Of note I am 5'10"

So I think the included paddle is too narrow. I'm hoping for advice on the right sized paddle as well as brands worth considering.

Thank you!

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by Dully_Mc_Lace

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Sorry to hear about the "not so pleasant" first experience in your kayak. A few things come to mind worthy of your consideration:

1. Are you too close to the maximum on the payload? The scuppers are primarily designed to let water escape on an SOT design. If you want it to stay dry, just place a good scupper plug in each hole but be sure they can be quickly removed in the event that you take on a big wave or some other form of water entry inside of the kayak.

2. SOT's are typically wide, so you do need a longer than usual paddle. This will also depend on how high you are seated. Longer is far better than a short paddle to avoid clunking on the sides of the vessel. I would suggest going as long as you can find...like 240 cm at a minimum...and as high as 270 cm if you can find one!

3. Drip rings, placed just up the shaft from the blades, can help keep water from tricking down and getting you wet too. They are easy to install on a 2 piece paddle, and a little tricky on a one piece (use zip ties after cutting a slice in the ring).

4. As for brands, I like Werner, Mitchell and Bending Branches to name a few, as they offer a variety of lightweight paddles and blade designs in a variety of materials. For an SOT fishing kayak I like a large "scoop" styled whitewater blade...as opposed to a day touring style with long, slender blades. You get more "propulsion" per paddle with the bigger scoop blades. Keep in mind that if you are paddling for many hours, some degree of fatigue may set in if your paddle is heavy. If your budget allows...go with a graphite shaft and blades. Also be sure that the blades can be feathered for paddling into wind. A 90 degree feather (offset) is best, but 60 degree is better than nothing. As for myself, I like to keep blades feathered at all times so that my hand eye body coordination learns that stroke style and it becomes very natural.

Over time, and depending on where you paddle, there may come a time when you invest in one or more "other" paddles. Some for durability and abuse, while others are made for better performance....

A final comment about paddles. I prefer a straight shaft. The fancy "ergonomic" irregularly bent designs make my arms and shoulders "hurt" after a day on the water! The concept behind those designs have a flaw in their logic if you ask me!

Good luck on your next adventure.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I wear breathable chest waders with a safety belt. And a quality life jacket. They are great for getting into the kayak when in shallow water. I have practice tipping over and getting back into the kayak many times, both with a rain coat on and off. My 11 year old grandson likes practicing capsizing his kayak more than going anywhere or fishing. He is a water rat. I have capsized my sit on top kayak over 100 times on purpose. With enough practice, it is easy to right it and get back in, even at age 72. I have never capsized a kayak unintentionally, but did capsize a 17 foot Grumman canoe about 10 years ago in December. I was setting Decoys. I was wearing neoprene chest waders, a safety belt and heavy jacket. Also had on a life jacket of course. Fortunately my shogun, ammo, buddy heater and snacks were already in the blind. I righted my canoe, gathered my dry bags and bailed it about half out. After paddling to shore (fortunately in calm water and inside my 40 yard max decoy set it was a tiring but achievable activity) I went ashore, emptied the canoe, changed clothes from emergency dry bag and had a good day hunting. I was extremely careful picking up the decoys at the end of the day. The air temp was about 40 degrees . The little buddy heater and hot hands paid for themselves. It could have been a real disaster, but practice and fore thought made it a "no big deal". If you are going to play alone, be prepared for every situation you can think of. If you play together, practice together. Note: I highly recommend rubber diving gloves when pulling and setting decoys. I also recommend over sized diving boots with "hot hands" when in the boat. Leave the extra tuffs on shore. At any rate, back to the original question. With my breathable waders on, I just let the water drip from the paddle and concentrate on fishing.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Back to my post about waders. Do no wear chest waders EVER without a snug waist safety belt. I repeat, EVER