got a kayak... need a paddle.

[jekbrown]

My wife and I got our kayaks today... but we held off on getting paddles, life jackets and roof rack stuff. Figured ebay/craigslist/used market might be the way to go on that stuff to save costs. Anyway, on the paddle front... how do you figure out how long of a paddle will work best for you?

Old Town's web site says for peeps over 6' (I'm right at 6'...) that a 230-250cm paddle is optimal. How about this one from ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-KAYAK-PADDL...2447592QQihZ011QQcategoryZ87091QQcmdZViewItem

?? They offer it in 230cm. Also, my wife is about 5'4".... would the 205cm one be long enough for her? Old Town says 215-220 would be best.

We are noobs... using this gear for recreation use on calm lakes / slow rivers only. No x-games poopoo here. So long as the stuff works and doesn't break under normal use, its all good.

anyway, thoughts from kayak gurus appreciated.

oh yeah... one more thing.... where do you get a PFD that isn't...a) expensive as hell... and b) doesn't look like it belongs on a retard. I understand that goofy colors help spot people who need to be rescued and crap, but I want something that isn't dork-tastic.

 

[cbbr]

I am a little over 6' and use an Aquabound Carbon 240cm. Lighter is better, period. It may not seem like much weight, but after a day you will be happy that it was light.

As for PFD's I keep a couple of those orange around-the-neck cheapies loose on the boat, but don't wear one. Keep in mind that I am in warm water and fishing so there are no rapids. Look at www.sierratradingpost.com , http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/ and the outlet at http://www.rei.com/outlet/ for deals. I have bought from all three.

 

[jekbrown]

coolio, thanks for the scoop mang! I've done more reading online... I think the longer one the guy sells (230cm) would be better for both of us. 200cm-ish ones seem to be for whitewater and crap. There certainly doesn't seem to be a cut-and-dry formula for paddle length, thats for sure. Seems like fads and personal preferance have as much to do with it as anything else. I suppose for a purely recreational user, it doesn't matter so much.

Thanks for the links on the PFDs too... there are some butt fugly ones out there. Normally I'm not all aboot the bling, but the ones they sell at Sportsmans Warehouse are just retarded looking.

 

[joez]

I am 6'6" and use a 250. I actually need one a bit longer, but this one works well for what i use my kayak for.

The best way i have found to size a paddle, is to go to your local dicks/bass pro shops/cabela's, anywhere that carries kayaks. Grab a paddle, stand it on end, and reach up with one of your arms. You should be able to wrap your fingers over the top of the paddle without standing on your toes or anything like that. If your arm is slack, the paddle is to short. If you cant reach, its to long. Hope that makes sense.

 

[jekbrown]

it helps mang!

I really like this PFD from Patagonia...

http://www.patagonia.com/usa/produc...HING_GEAR.MENS.VESTS&style_color=82771-250&ws=

to bad its $80 "on sale". 99% of PFDs I look at are retardo and still cost $60. Grrrrrr!

 

[ORYGUNHAMMER]

padagonia!

123

 

[jekbrown]

sa-weeeet. I waited on getting a PFD, because I couldn't find one that I liked and I wasn't gonna need one for a few months anyway so I thought I'd be patient. Today I notice this old thread and decide to do a search for that sweet Patagonia vest. Turns out Pat is having a big winter clearance sale, so the vest I wanted (already on sale at $80) was marked down to just $60. w00t! Glad I waited, because the other vests I was going to buy were in the $50 range and not nearly as cool as this one. Worth the extra 10 bones for sure...