Last month, we addressed the most basic issue of canoeing: how to hold a single-bladed paddle. Wildlife Research Team uses both single and double-bladed paddles in our projects, as both are required at different times. Just as in golf and tennis, there are numerous manufacturers of paddles of both types. Some of these, as in golf and tennis, are very pricey indeed: paddles for you and your favorite paddling companion could cost as much as a basic canoe! Some of these may also be designed for high performance and of the most technologically advanced space age materials. Of course, if you already use paddles like these, I doubt if you need to read this very basic article!

Our Team prefers new volunteers to begin with a single-bladed paddle, even if they have some kayaking experience and have used double-bladed paddles before. After all, a single-bladed paddle can be used everywhere. This is something kayakers learn the hard way in a mangrove tunnel, going under a low bridge or fallen tree, or squeezing themselves through a culvert like thread through a needle's eye. I've also seen people lever themselves clear out of the canoe when a blade of their double paddle catches on something, to include a small wave. To thus avoid embarrassing yourself, it's best to start with a single-bladed paddle.

One thing that you, as a person interested in paddling can do for yourself, is to invest in a decent single-bladed paddle and even a decent double-bladed paddle, even if you don't own a canoe or kayak. I've actually seen canoe rental places issue broken paddles to their customers! I'd also recommend investing in a good personal flotation device, or PFD, for each member of your family so you won't be subject to the whims of rental outfitters.

Take your time when shopping for your paddles. Do your research. Think about how many thousands, no millions, of strokes you'll make with that paddle. Imagine if the steering wheel of your car hurt your hand in a subtle but consistent way; how would your driving be affected? Perhaps it could even cause you to get into an accident by diverting your attention!

As our Team has dealt with many new volunteers each year since 1993, we have a lot of experience in finding a good basic paddle for them. There is a lot of paddle abuse that goes on! This to include shoving off from rocky banks using the tip of the paddle blade. Makes me shudder to think of it, but it happens. And paddles get lost along the way, somehow. So for sure, WRT won't be buying $114 Kevlar paddles for general use. But we have had great success with all paddles made by Mohawk Canoes. Longwood, Florida was the original location for Mohawk Canoes until they sold their business a few years ago, and they developed some excellent, reasonably priced paddles to go with their exceptional canoes. WRT's fleet is about 98% Mohawks. Since 1976, about a million Mohawk paddles have been sold, so I am sure you've seen them in use. Mohawk Canoes is now in Tennessee and Mohawk Paddles is in Virginia, which is good news for all budget-conscious canoeists.

The Mohawk paddle blade is black polypropylene and the shaft is aluminum, with a black plastic coating on the shaft where your hand will grasp it, to avoid aluminum coming off on you. Having known the original Mohawk folks, I can vouch for their careful research of what works best for the largest segment of the public, and that's why the paddle shaft is a uniform 1-1/8" no matter the length. The Mohawk paddle designers learned that 90% of the population can be very happy with a 54" long single-bladed paddle. They also designed their paddles with a special strengthening insert that makes them almost indestructible: nobody's yet broken one in our Team despite lots of very hard use.

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