About 4 weeks ago, I finally managed to get my Starboard High Aspect carbon paddle. I've followed all the instructions to the letter regarding the glueing of the top handle only to have the joint at the handle and shaft/blade joint both fail twice.

Do I just give up, clean all the hot glue out and epoxy the bloody thing or has someone actually had some success with the system?

Hot glue is not very resistant to water. I use it all the time on non-Ke Nalu paddles but have to ensure that the joint is protected from water ingress. I use plumber's amalgamating tape and electrical tape together to cover the joints. It's not pretty but it works. The Ke Nalu paddles are designed specifically for hot glue and the way they fit together is different from most paddles so it's not so much of an issue. I don't know about the Starboard arrangement but I'd say do as recommended above plus protect the joint from direct contact with water. In addition, hot glue will get soft in hot climates if the paddle is left in the sun (eg. In your vehicle).

I haven't had any success with hot glue and Kialoa..

When Bill decided he would go the hot glue road with KeNalu he had to make the fit very sloppy so the hot glue will work..

Most paddle are too tight a fit for hot glue to work.. IMO

I reckon use 5 minute epoxy.. It's very easy to get apart once dipped into boiling water.

magillamelb said..

I think I'll use epoxy of some description.

Going to Barwon Heads tomorrow DJ?

Yes..

DJ it just isn't true that boiling easily loosens 5 min epoxy. I cut off the handle of a Kialloa Lau Lau this week and boiled it vigorously for one hour. Even after that time, and twisting and pulling the shaft in various ways until it broke, the epoxy held firm. I had used 5 min Araldite. So, maybe this works with the foam core Kialoa handles but it doesn't work with the other type they use, which slide into the shaft rather than the shaft sliding into the handle. Or maybe Aussie epoxy has a different sensitivity to heat. In this country, Araldite is the most commonly used brand.

Your Kialoa dealer should be able to get you a replacement handle for not much cost, and having now tried various removal methods on various different handles I'd say that unless money is really so tight that there is no other option, it might be best just to buy a new handle and save yourself a lot of grief. Unless perhaps you have the specific handles that DJ has been removing. Other ones with bigger surface areas for glue contact, and where there are different materials meeting each other than with the Kialoa Methane-type handles, might not come off as easily.

I don't glue with araldite any more , give up and use plastic tape roll around .
Because i have been cutting several times each paddle before finding the good length . So i put "duck tape" or that kind of strong tape to fix the handle. Works OK, just remove and apply again if it's licking or start to wobble. It used to last some times but is not definitively done.
Plus, if you got a crack in the paddle you can open easily by removing and let the water flows out.Then fix the crack and tape the handle again

JohnnyMaya said..

A friend of mine who works with carbon composites once taught me a trick that as worked for me since that same day: doesn't matter how you glue your paddle, apply a bit of nail polish on the joint and then a layer of electrical tape.
No water inside the paddles... ever!

If you need to unglue the grip, it won't be a problem since nail polish is a very weak bond.

I will do that way next time ; apply some gel before rolling the tape around. Obligado.