Hi guys, my apologies if something to this effect has been posted before. I have recently changed from an NSP 12'6 touring/race board to a 17' Naish Glide. I use a JP Australia 65% Carbon paddle, with a blade area of 88 sq inches. Moving over to the Glide, it feels like it is much harder to pull the blade through the water than on the 12'6. I understand that the Glide is a bit heavier than the smaller board, and thus it it may be harder to paddle it up to speed, but I was wondering if anybody has any advice. Specifically, as I might be in the market for a new paddle, would I do well getting a larger or smaller blade? Intuitively, I would think smaller (easier to pull a smaller blade through the water), but I'm also thinking that with such a big board it could benefit from more power being exerted upon it, and at least once it gets up to speed, it would hold it better with a bigger blade. Cheers

I have a modified Naish 17 also. In flat water, in general bigger boards need more power and therefore bigger blades. If the board is too big for you you could actually find yourself slower on a 17 than a 12-6, especially for cruising. Some of my friends find the 17 too much for them and are slower than they are on smaller boards. But I'm faster on it in flatwater than on a 14ft dedicated flatwater raceboard. You gotta match the rider to the board.

In downwind conditions I'm currently using the 91 sq inch QB V-Drive with the 17. On flat water I use a larger blade, either the QB 100 Slim Jim, or the Kialoa GL race (around 100 I think) or the Kialoa Toro (about 107 sq ins). I'm fastest with the Toro over shorter distances (up to 5 miles) but that's a big paddle for me if I'm going long distances. You just have to experiment and see. Everyone is different.

Thanks for the replies guys! I will ideally try to demo some. I think I am still quicker on the 17 than the 12'6, but as you guys have said, I have noticed that it does seem harder to push the 17 on the flatwater than on the harbour.

Windsurfnsnow, I notice that you stock starboard paddles. I meant to call you today, but perhaps you could just tell me on here. I like the look of the Starboard high aspect paddles. Do you know the weight difference between the carbon and the tiki tech? I'm a uni student so funds are a bit low, so I I'm not sure if a full carbon paddle is on the cards

WINDSURFnSNOW said..

Try smaller. Much easier to maintain speed and accelerate if you ask me.

I see where you are coming from. That was my first thought too. But he's already at 88 sq inches (and a fairly soft shaft). If he goes much smaller he'll be paddling a postage stamp.

The Naish 17 used to be Dave Kalama's board of choice. And when he paddled it he used to use a 120 sq inch paddle!



How heavy are you, GusD?

By the way, you don't pull the paddle through the water, you pull yourself to the paddle. The blade hardly moves in the water. What you might be experiencing is the board not moving rather than the paddle blade not moving through the water. Big boards take a bit more grunt to get them going. Try Connor Baxtering the shaft and taking much shorter faster strokes to get yourself initially up and running, then transfer to a more conventional stroke once you are up to speed.

trend is smaller, 88sq sounds quite small already (bigger=more power). what do you think you want? try that (aprox) on your 17' leviathan. i have NEVER regretted demo'ing first & i have (almost) always regretted NOT demo'ing.