IMO..Paddle length is very important.

This is from the Starboard site about paddle length...

"A good rule of thumb for finding the ideal paddle length: have the shaft length equal to the distance from your toes to your eyes."

Remember this is just the shaft length..not the total length.

I think they are probably right...and the latest how to SUP dvd says it should be between 10" and 12" more than your height.

BTW...Mine is 13" above my height...and I'm 6'4"...Remember you can always cut more off but you can't add more on..So start on the longer side.

I've cut down cheap paddle blades to different shapes and found the one on the right works best...(see pic bellow)

This shape allows you to get the paddle more under the board..and if there is any board banging it's the paddle shaft..not the blade...and also the closer you can paddle to the edge of the board the less the board will drift off line.

Good luck with it and have fun...and let us know who you go.

Oh yeah....One more thing.

Wallies (windsurfers) make great learning SUP boards..as long as it's just flat water.

Try and surf waves on them and you will be very dissapointed..When you dip a rail to turn..they will turn the opposite way..and you fall in..

DJ

G'day DJ,

I saw your posts on another forum RE: where you get your parts and size of blade before cutting them down etc, but what material do you use for the shafts on your home made paddles?

Cheers

Cheers DJ,

I'll see if I can track down the parts from the marine shops in Geelong.

Hi Lfish,

There was a noticeable difference paddling with the different shapes.



I liked the second from the right at first..and used it for a few weeks.

The one on the far right felt a little weak and could be overpowered and made to gurgle a little...

....but now I am using it and like it even more.

I just don't push it so hard..I think it allows me to get the paddle stroke more under the board..and has a lighter feel.

..and on those long paddle sessions I don't feel so tired at the end.

This pic shows the blade on the far right...

The one on the second left (leaf shape) could be made to flutter (wobble) a bit when pushed hard at the start of the stroke before the blade is fully dipped.

The far left (full size) looks a little too oar shaped..but gives great power, I can't overpower it..but feels a bit heavy at the end of a long session.

Hope that answers your question.

I know these cheap alloy/plastic paddles are not as good as the carbon fiber paddles but for $50 compared to $500 they are not that bad...I like them.

DJ

I sent an e-mail to the info@ address a couple of weeks ago asking about freight prices to victoria for these and didnt hear back.