Yakass Home
Carlisle T-grip paddle for AI
- Category: Kayak fishing accessories
- Published on Sunday, 06 February 2011 14:39
- Written by Josh
Due to the fact that my Hobie Adventure Island is only ever employed without a tramp whenever I use the boat as a monohull kayak (rarely), a full-length double-blade paddle isn't of much use to me. Obviously, the tramp gets in the way of a paddle stroke and this is one of the main reasons I only use one tramp. Fortunately, however, the trimaran or outrigger configuration paddles nicely with a single blade canoe style T-handle paddle, and that's precisely how I was using my hobie paddle up until recently.
More and more I find myself resorting to employing the paddle as a means to push off a surface (such as rocks, sand, etc) and this is a practical necessity not covered under the Hobie paddles warranty. Sooner or later I was going to break it the way I was often going about using it - I've seen them fail for less - so I decided to look around for something a little more up to the task. I liked what I saw in the Carslisle T grip paddle, which is a no-fuss aluminium shaft plastic reinforced paddle. There's a few reasons I gravitated towards this paddle.
Firstly, it's tough as nails - really tough. I won't have to concern myself with the blade snapping off the shaft when using this to lever my yak off away from structure. It's also notably longer and reasonably heavier. It has a larger blade, which unlike the Hobie one is symmetrical and flat. The qualities that attracted me to it were all confirmed as being as suited as I thought it would, for the following reasons...
Due to the extra length, I can use a deeper longer paddle technique and get more thrust from each stroke and it does indeed provide for better speed and acceleration capability. I can use it comfortably while sitting in the seat, kneeling on deck or even when standing up (kind of like what I imagine disabled paddle-boarding would look like). That extra length also gives me extra leverage with which to push off land and rocks with. And because the paddle is a last-means resort of shark defence, juxtaposed to the half-Hobie paddle, the T-grip paddle gives me a Tommy hearns-like reach to jab out with.
Perhaps best of all (because it spends most of it's time secured to the kayak) this paddle is easier to secure between 2 akas than the split Hobie paddle is, allowing me to secure it just above each aka bar, the blade underneath the paddle strap on the tramp at the front with the handle secured by a twist of the occy strap I've attached to the rear of the tramp. It is very secure attached like this, and quick and easy to grab in a hurry. And because it is so stiff and solid, it also provides a grab handle near the moddle of the tramp, turning out to be a touch I quite like.
38 minutes ago
