Bent vs. Straight Shaft

When looking for a flat water wooden paddle you will likely find that there are bent shaft canoe paddles. (If you have not seen these look click here.) These paddles are relatively new and are almost exclusively found on wooden paddles that are designed for flat water. In some cases these paddles can be very beneficial so let's break down bent vs. straight shaft.

Bent Shaft:

Bent shaft paddles are relatively new. For flat water paddling they are more efficient than a straight shaft paddle because when you end your forward stroke with a bent shaft the blade is still perpendicular to the water, with a straight shaft the blade is pushing water up. When using a bent shaft paddle every few strokes the stern paddler calls "HUT" at which point both paddlers switch sides and continue paddling. This is used to keep the canoe on track instead of doing corrective strokes. Although bent shaft paddles are more efficient that straight shaft paddles some paddlers do not like using them. This may be true for a few reasons; they don't like switching sides all the time, they prefer doing the corrective strokes (it's weird to do them with a bent shaft), or they prefer the traditional style of paddling. 

Pros:

• More efficient for flat water paddling

Cons:

• Have to switch sides constantly
• Makes corrective strokes more difficult
• Only usable in certain venues (flat water)

Straight Shaft:

As mentioned above the straight shaft is not as efficient as the bent shaft. This is because when you end the stroke using a straight shaft the blade of the paddle is pushing water up rather than being perpendicular to the water. Although they are less efficient for long distance flat water straight shaft paddles are more versatile and you don't have to switch sides all the time. This is very attractive to some folks. Straight shaft paddles are also much easier to do your corrective strokes with. 

Pros:

• More efficient for doing corrective strokes
• You do not need to switch sides constantly
• Straight shaft paddles are more versatile

Cons:

• They are less efficient for flat water paddling

Which type of paddle is best for you really depends on preference and where you will be doing the majority of your paddling. If you are buying your first paddle I could recommend sticking with a straight shaft because of the versatility. A straight shaft will also help you perfect your corrective strokes before graduating to a bent shaft. Ideally you could own both types of paddles so that you could choose the right paddle for the right trip.

Please contact us if you have any questions! We are more than happy to assist.