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Use a standard, double-bladed kayak paddle. The blades should be feathered. Blades can be feathered from 0–90 degrees.

Use this rule of thumb to find the approximate paddle length: stand up straight, extend one arm above your head, and hook your fingers over an imaginary paddle. Your paddle should be about that length.

Also consider the type of outing and the waterway.

  • For white-water paddling, select a shorter paddle.
  • For touring paddling, select a longer paddle.
  • For recreational paddling, select a length between a white-water and a touring paddle.
Kayak paddle
Choosing the right canoe paddle length
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