Looking back at your other thread, it appears you're using a 84" x 3.25" GP. I'm not an expert on GP, but I've seen paddlers with smaller blades in similar boats easily keep up with sea kayaks using euro ones. Based on your description, it doesn't sound like an equipment problem.

You might try to take video of your stroke and have experienced paddlers take a look.

Also, if you are "consistently 60-70 seconds behind the group," your cruising speed is the same as theirs. If you were slower, it would be 60...75...90..105. I wouldn't mention it except that somebody was actually timing you.

None of this should dissuade you from making paddles of a few different sizes and seeing what suits you best, but if the goal is to keep up with the pack, looking for technical adjustments first might be a quicker and simpler solution.

: good morning everyone,

: I hope all is well.

: Many Thanks for the tips down below with an older post of my Gp
: paddle issues (not fast enough)

: anyway holding the paddle with a proper "Cant" vs using
: it flat was MUCH MUCH better, But all day long I was aprox 1 min
: behing the group of 6 rec yacks and a canoe.

: My brother timed me a few times and again I was consistantly 60-70
: sec behind the group all day.

: My strokes were 2-3 -1 of the euro paddle group.

: Im thinking that My paddle might be a tad lacking in surface area
: for my PARTICULAR Needs 85" long 3.25 wide AL style flat
: one side spined on the other.

: the flat side was faster but harder to control.

: My boat is a shearwater merganser 17W 23" im 250LB Im thinking
: that a GP or AL paddle will work fine but I need a bit more
: surface area and/or length due to boat size/my wt in order to Up
: my distance/speed while staying at 2 -1 strokes of the group.

: wider blade perhaps a bit longer both???

: your thoughts please.

: with the canted stroke I was not out in left field like I have been
: (way behind group,using blade flat ) but I dont want to have to
: do 3-4 stroke - 1 to keep up, thats like spinning out with the
: touring bicycle.

: Many thanks

: "John"