: Looking to buy my first paddle and want to have it for a long time. I will
: use for a little bit of everything but primarilly touring. The Whetstone
: paddles look to be a great deal. Has anybody used one? Thanks for any
: info. Todd

Todd,

I'm not familiar with the Whetstone paddles -- I'm assuming it's a Euro-style paddle. Being a narrow-blade paddler, I have to give a plug for the paddles that were developed by native paddlers all over the Arctic. They are great paddles for touring. They're lightweight and are held lower to the deck than Euro paddles, resulting in less shoulder and wrist stress. They look like toothpicks, but they have the same surface area as a Euro paddle and are just as effective at propelling the boat. They're not quite as good in a sprint, so they're not used for racing, but are reputed to be more efficient in the long run. They are excellent paddles for rolling with. They're best used with medium- to low-volume kayaks -- you'll bonk your knuckles on the deck too often on a big kayak.

I bought 3 of the pictured paddles from Eric Schade at Shearwater Boats; 2 regular-length and one storm paddle that I keep on my aft deck for a spare. They were $135 and are a bargain. They're better quality than the $210 Betsie Bay paddles at my local kayak shop. Just make sure Eric makes them only 4" wide...

Dean