Gday , I have now gone through 4 paddles 2 alloy a second hand carbon and a brand new around the $400 mark carbon paddle the last only lasting 2 months. I treated the last paddle like it was a fluro light I was so worried about breaking it ! had a bag washed it dried it would of burped it if I thought that had helped but no luck 3 rd wave today right at the top boom! She blew up . The day before I did a mini down wind with the local club and I am sure I could hear it creaking is this possible? Or just my imagination . My question is when i took it to the shop they weren't very keen to replace it , they talked about never seing a break in that spot "that spot being between top and bottom hand " So is this unheard off or are they having a lend of me . Any input would be great because it's starting to get depressing thinking I have to find $400 every 3 months . Thanks

Thanks Hawaiiheke , I am in the 6'3 range so maybe I need to bend zee kneez a bit more , just killing me the replacement cost and the thought that a product that costs around $400 would break in 2 months

Gday Tardy , I don't want to drop the name of the brand as it's still in discussion , but it was fixed , surf specific and bought for its toughness . As the guy who sold it said " you won't break that or I will replace it for free ! " Should of asked for it in writing , will find out today hopefully if they will replace it because the swell is pumping up here

Hahaha no chance Hawaiiheke the stand up was to save my knees

Krist said..
Gday Tardy , I don't want to drop the name of the brand as it's still in discussion , but it was fixed , surf specific and bought for its toughness . As the guy who sold it said " you won't break that or I will replace it for free ! " Should of asked for it in writing , will find out today hopefully if they will replace it because the swell is pumping up here

Krist usually they have to send pictures back to the company before a warranty .sometimes it can take a week ...hope it's not to long await for you .
but if its less than a year ...it should go through..
I'd be running around in circles without a paddle .specially if its pumping ..
Ask him if you can borrow one till your warranty comes through.

Ive only broken one .put it was my fault .I fell heavy on it ..I fixed it ..
She a beauty now ..heavier but tougher .

Thanks for the positive vibes crakas I need them right now . Stupid as it sounds getting on the water for a couple hours every day is the only thing that keeps me sane fingers crossed

Good advice surfershaneA and no I haven't mentioned the product name as it was is a great paddle , its just broken now

I think a lot of the newer gear (boards included) push the limits between strength and weight. My old paddle weighed twice as much as the new one. The old one felt indistructable and I treated it like i was going to throw it away next week.

Hey Krist
Have had a well known brand paddle break twice on me. Each time in different places One across the top of the blade. The other around 300mm down from top of the shaft. Both times the guys in the shop where it came from said it was an unusual place to break. Both times they chased up the supplier/manufacturers and both times had it replaced
I questioned whether it was made for use in the surf and was told that it was. I don't use it in there any more and brought a cheaper one designed for the surf (sumjam). No troubles with this and has been good. The other Ouse on flat waters only. I prefer to use the more expensive one but to worried that it will break again In the surf
Good luck with getting a replacement

So what was the outcome?

Can you advise your surf specific paddle

Hey Krist, I'd suggest having a look at Werner Paddles. Werner has been making carbon paddles for decades as they started as a whitewater kayaking paddle maker. I was a bit of a whitewater guy years ago, so when I started shopping for Stand up paddles I went straight for Werner. I've had one paddle since 2009, a Werner Spanker. It's suffered a lot of big days and steep heavy waves, and it's still here, in one piece. Paddle styles and technology have changed and I recently got a new Werner, the Rip Stick. I've only had it out on a couple of day, but I love it. Lighter with a smaller blade, but seems to have as much pulling torque as the old Werner Spanker, which was a big shovel. Anyway, I've seen a lot of paddles break, but my original Werner is still alive and in one piece, and enjoying the retirement it has earned.

Thanks jarvislan, Google here I come .

Krist said..
The QB look like a nice paddle hilly , and I think $400 is the going price for most brands at the moment . I have been emailing a composites company who say they make shafts here in oz and let me tell you they are a lot cheaper then the ones with the stickers on them . I will keep the forum posted on that little venture but I am sure I am not the first to go down this path .

Will be interesting if they can get the flex in them. Easy to make stiff ones I think, too much Viagra maybe

Slim Jim rrp is $475

Re: Excel Composites

Thanks Andrew.

Awesome to hear someone is doing this. Kevlar is a top idea. For surfing, I like a bit of flex, so would go for some fibreglass.

Almost as fun as picking fishing rod blanks, and even cheaper!!!!

Thanks,

Yes, an old stock Megabass fishing rod I was thinking of buying is a medium taper Kevlar/carbon composite. The fragile extra fast tapers are near pure carbon.

Also have a German Navy deck jacket that is aramid (Kevlar structure) blend with a gortex lining. Thankfully I can move in it. Bloody handy if the boat ever explodes!!

Nice to see we can start picking some of this technology in paddles.