Find your wooden paddle size
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Canoe Paddles
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If you have been paddling as long as we have, you have heard a number of different methods of determining
what size paddle you should be using. If you are new to paddling then it can be awful confusing. There is the
chin method, the armpit method, the arm spread method and finally, the one we will use here, the Torso
method. Our wooden paddles are beautiful, so let's make sure we make them functional.
This guide is used to determine how long the shaft combined with the blade should be for the best paddling
performance. However there are a number of variables that enter into the final decision. How high are the
seats, will you be kneeling most of the time, if you are sitting most of the time, will there be a cushion on the
seat? Maybe your legs are long or your torso is long.
What we are trying to determine here is the distance from your hands to the water so that you are not leaning
over the side of the boat to get a good stroke and likewise you don't want to have to extend your arms up in
the air as it will get tiring.
If you take away nothing else, remember this. Better to err on the side of a slightly larger paddle than a
slightly shorter paddle. You can always increase the angle of your strokes, but if a paddle is too short then
you have no option than to lean into the stroke which can get to be tiring after a while. This is particularly
important if one of the paddles is for a paddling partner who will change often.
At the risk of sounding self serving here, the best policy is to have a third paddle around to accommodate the
shorter paddler if necessary while having a average length paddle about for the paddling visitor. Of course
we would prefer you get a spare wooden paddle as we think they feel and perform better, but you can always
keep a less expensive plastic and metal spare around. Careful, though, your visiting paddler will likely want
your wooden paddle.
With that in mind, we offer the following suggestions.
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Torso size
(sit straight up against a wall and measure from
between your legs to the tip of your nose)
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Straight shaft
canoe paddle
length
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Bent shaft canoe paddle length
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Double Paddle Canoes
Little Rob, Bay Hawk, Bay Hawk Duet and Nantucket Sleigh Etc....
For Double paddle canoes we recommend getting the Impression Solo Wood Canoe Paddle It is 260 CM and
has larger blade sizes than a typical kayak paddle. The additional length will compensate for the higher than
kayak freeboard and the larger blade size will give additional thrust for the greater displacement of the boats.
If you are over 6' tall with a long arm reach, consider the 280 CM.
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Kayak Paddles
When determining paddle length, the kayak or double paddle canoe width is the determining factor for
recreational paddling.
The sizing chart below should ensure you aren't hitting your knuckles on the hull as you paddle. For the vast
majority of paddlers, 230cm will be the right choice.
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Reccomended Paddle Lengths
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