I think he's a nurse??

Love their rail tape, but sticking with the Nitto until they make the paddle tape longer to cover the whole edge!

Nice bike. What is it?

I find that RSPro rail tape on my boards acts as a cheese-grater on paddle blades and pretty much destroys any tape you put on them. Does the RSPro paddle tape survive repeated contact with the RSPro rail tape?

So now I've got to buy their expensive blade tape to protect my paddle from their expensive rail tape?

I am very much undecided about RSPro rail tape. I virtually never got chips on my rails before it anyway, and with electrical tape on my paddles I never damaged them either, and one application would last 6 months. Now my RSPro rail tape has taken the paint finish of my board so I can't ever remove it, and I'm having to change the tape on my blade every other week. It even destroys 3M door edge protector tape used on a paddle blade, which is pretty tough. I can't imagine what it would do over time to a bare blade.

And thanks for the technique advice. But I have found that occasional contact between blade and rail (and shaft and rail) is almost inevitable if you endeavour to keep your blade close to the rail when you stroke, especially in choppy conditions and/or surf.

So, I'm sorry guys, I know that many of you are RSPro devotees and might think it heresy to say it, but it hasn't enriched my life much. I might be happier if they made a smooth version. I'd also like it if their blade protector protected the whole blade, since their rail tape does rough up the blade towards the neck when I paddle, even if it doesn't when you do.

DavidJohn said...
I think if you don't need rail tape and happy with using electrical tape keep doing that.. No one is making anyone buy RSPro products.. But for those who use rail tape and paddle guard I think they're the best out there.

My paddles have never shown any wear from the rail tape but maybe Kialoa are tougher than the rest..

Yeah, I'm coming to the conclusion that buying rail tape to solve a problem I didn't have was not a smart move. Maybe if you are an enthusiastic rail-thwacker the trouble and expense would be worth it.

I'd buy some smooth stuff though, even if it wasn't quite as tough.

As regards paddle blade edge durability, there are many things I admire about Quickblade paddles, but durability of the blade edge is not really one of them.

But you, DJ, often use a paddle with a thermoplastic blade, don't you? Not much issue with durability with one of those - but they can wreak havoc on your board's rails. So maybe this is partly why you are so keen on rail tape?

Why did they put a white line down the centre of the tape? I presume it's to make it easier to fit. But the reason a lot of people don't tape their blades is vanity: they associate taping your blades with not being a serious racer, or being incompetent. So they like clear tape because it isn't obvious. So I think that RSPro may be making a tactical error here. At least offer it in different colours maybe? But plain clear or with a black line would have been best, I'd have thought.

Area10 said..
Why did they put a white line down the centre of the tape? I presume it's to make it easier to fit. But the reason a lot of people don't tape their blades is vanity: they associate taping your blades with not being a serious racer, or being incompetent. So they like clear tape because it isn't obvious. So I think that RSPro may be making a tactical error here. At least offer it in different colours maybe? But plain clear or with a black line would have been best, I'd have thought.

The other thing is some paddle brands have a coloured rail insert along the entire edge of blade and this colour matches the graphics of the paddle blade face. The RSPro colour options are very limited, and where they don't match the colours of my favourite paddle, I am reluctant to use the product.

Oh yes, I am far more cosmetically/fashion vain than I am over something so ridiculous as paddling proficiency among the so-called serious racers.

As long as it is protecting the entire length of my paddle blade from damaging my board, I couldn't care less about colours- everyone's different though.
Nice to see a company listening to their customers.
Any word on Aussie stock Dean?

JoffaDan said...
As long as it is protecting the entire length of my paddle blade from damaging my board, I couldn't care less about colours- everyone's different though.
Nice to see a company listening to their customers.
Any word on Aussie stock Dean?

The new longer blade edge protector will be available in Australia in a couple of weeks. It will be 90cm long (original one is 60cm) and will only be available in clear / white....for the time being ;-)