The best paddle you could buy, would be light, stiff, unbreakable and cheap. That combination just doesn't exist. Instead, select a paddle that achieves the correct balance for what you want to do.

my favorites are:
- Aquabound injected carbon paddle, it's super resistant to abrasion wear, light and reasonably priced. Great paddle for freeboating.

- Robson, because I think it is a tough paddle. I'm basing this on the completely unscientific evidence that I haven't broken my Robson yet. The aluminum insert in the tip helps when you're pushing off rocks, so it's a good creeking stick.

- Bailey Johnson makes a tough wood stick, under the name Clinch River, that would be a good choice for rock infested drops.

- Robson or Double Dutch carbon ergo shaft would round out the collection as a light weight efficient stick. Sweet!

Where to get 'em:

Aquabound- every respectable paddling shop should have 'em. If they don't harass the manager!

Robson- Try Trailhead and Wildrock

Clinch River- Order these direct from Bailey. If you are interested in one of Bailey's paddles I can supply an address etc.

Ergo paddles- You'll have to order these, a retailer could give you a phone #.

-- Paul

Hello Mikko,

It is always a pleasure to hear of the influence that Dad has and is still having on people across the world. I've had extensive canoe tripping experience in a couple Mad River Canoes as well as the Old Town Tripper. I think the MR Explorer is a versatile canoe. It has good carrying capacity and is maneuverable. The MR freedom has more volume in the ends and is a little drier. The 17' OT tripper is a larger canoe both in volume and length. It is faster and drier although due to its flat bottom it will tend towards "oil canning", that bouncing motion that some canoes hulls do when paddled without a load.
Of Course being a team Dagger paddler, I would recommend you take a look at their boats as well.

Paul Mason
--
Paul Mason productions
www.wilds.mb.ca/redcanoe

Well Paul,

It just so happens that I co-authored a book named "Thrill of the Paddle" which explains all of those river features. If you need an even more detailed analysis read my late father's book "Path of the Paddle". Both books are available at outdoor stores. If you still can't find it try ordering it from wwwtrailhead.ca.

Good luck
Paul Mason
--
Paul Mason productions
www.redcanoes.ca

Hi Steve:

It sounds like you're looking for a custom wood paddle. Andy of Echo Paddles makes really sweet sticks. Check out his website echopaddles.com or e-mail him at aconvery@ echopaddles.com
Tell him I sent you.

Paul
--
Paul Mason productions
www.redcanoes.ca

Hello Christina

Yes, kayaking is good for improving your fitness level, as are most sports. Possibly because they create a recognizable need for a level of fitness that will enable you to successfully participate in the sport. Paddling is not only about what you do on the river, much time and energy goes into skill preparation and gear. Before you know it you've got yourself an active lifestyle. As they say on the river, Sweeet!

Paul

ps. Start by joining a good club or trying paddling classes.

Hello Brian

I'm honoured to receive your invitation to come down to paddle and will reply to you directly about that. As for the shake-out I must confess to be more than a little rusty at that skill since I started paddling smaller playboats and using the open canoe roll for self rescue. But here are some tips that may help. Choose the right canoe. A canoe with tumblehome is more difficult because the water is deflected in towards the center of the canoe. A canoe with flare will be easier. Start with a good thrust from the end of the canoe to let the initial volume of water out.

Best of Luck
Paul
--
Paul Mason productions
www.redcanoes.ca

George

I'd vote for the lighter option. The Kevlar boat will be pretty tough but will show wear and tear faster than the plastic boats. The lighter royalex won't stand up to major disasters as well as the regular weight but it will slide over rocks well. I'd probably choose the light royalex.

Have a great trip.

Hi Rick

I don't kayak but...dude it is time to go to physio. My chiropractor is on speed dial on my phone.

an added thought. There are many types of outfitting on the market now, there should be one to suit your paddling style. Best to try them out at a boat retailer or demo day near you.

Good luck.

Paul Mason
pmp@magma.ca
bubblestreet.ca

Hi Josh

The Taureau it is a plastic planing hull boat that does behave like a canoe. It is stable sidesurfing holes and can flat spin on a breaking wave. It is fast for a planing hull boat and has a much bigger deck than other canoes.

Paul Mason
pmp@magma.ca
bubblestreet.ca

Hi Strom

Re; Taureau - It's about as fast as a skeeter, slower than a Ocoee. It is stable side to side, but more sensitive to front to back weight shift than your long boat. It is not strong at punching holes because it has a rockered stern to allow it to spin on waves and in holes. It will be great in the rocky stuff due to it's revolutionary hull material. So yeah, I think you should get one! I'm stoked about spending more time in the Taureau this summer.

Paul

ps. There is a cartoon of one in action, hidden in the new Ottawa River Whitewater Poster, available from bubblestreet.ca

Paul Mason pmp@magma.ca
bubblestreet.ca

Wayne

I usually use my hip bone as a landmark. While sitting on your saddle move yourself so that the top of your hipbone is an inch or so behind the center of the boat. basically your belly button will be at the center point if you don't have too much hangbelly. now trace the front of your saddle onto the hull of your boat.

good luck. Paul

Matt

The Salsa is a better cart wheeling boat and will blunt bigger. It carves well on a wave face due to the velocity rails. It is a little faster on flatwater. It is not as loose as the CU Fly and has some trouble spinning on slow waves. At the moment it is a very high performance boat. Look for a slightly more user friendly production version. If you can wait, it might be worth checking out the production version of the Salsa before going after a CU Fly.

Paul

Colin

Yeah 11" is too high. I find 8.5" pretty good if your knees are alright. But even that won't cure it if you have not carved out the sidewall foam to allow your knees to be against (ie: 1" from) the sides of the boat. On another (crass self promotional) note make sure you check out this weeks Bubble street paddling comic strip, you can find it by going to bubblestreet.ca

Paul Mason
pmp@magma.ca
bubbles- treet.ca

Hi Martin

You've got a "pretty tricky" question there. I'll admit to being biased towards Esquif boats. Having said that, if you are gonna buy a "big" boat (remember my current boat is 6'9") I'd seriously consider the Esquif Zephyr. I did some slalom in it and really enjoyed it. I have not paddled the shaman enough to offer a valid opinion on it. ps. maybe I'll do up a "pretty tricky" cartoon for my bubblestreet.ca site:-)

Paul Mason pmp@magma.ca bubblestreet.ca-