Paddle size is very dependant on taste. I do short trips and surfing and use a large area paddle about 200cm long. On longer trips this paddle is too large and feels like like a bicycle would if it was stuck in top gear. So for long open water trips blade size should be smaller to keep up the paddling cadence as you tire.I think that most sea kayakers tend to use over long paddles and then try to keep the boat too upright I think a shorter paddle works best. Rolling performance is the same with even the smallest area paddles. One pitfall I have found is that paddles should not be too bouyant rolling with a bouyant paddle is a pain.I use 45 degree feather to avoid agravating old wrist injuries this works well except in very high winds I'm about 5'8" and weigh about 145Lb, and wear a size ten
> shoe. I figure the plans for a paddle blade in Nick Schade's book
> should be about right for me since I'm right at the mean geometric
> proportions. BUT, my wife is 5'2", around 105Lb, and size 6 shoe.
> Would it be wise to scale down the paddle blade's planform about 5%
> or 10%? Are there any guidelines to use for such a proportion adjustment?
>