Well there is always a lot of talk about what paddle to buy (Length and Type) but not much info on life expectancy.
To start off, I really like Kialoa Paddles I have used them exclusively for last 8 years. I have purchased a Wiley Coyote 52',Axel II-Hybrid 52', a Keone-All Carbon-52', and a 51' All Carbon-Keone.
I want to talk about the all carbon Keone 51.
It snapped in half last week. It wasn't a surprise, since I noticed it starting to stress at the lower hand placement. But I then started to think about how long I had it for. NOTE: I immediately purchased a new one-so this is not a rant but fact finding
I wanted to think about what is normal life expectancy. I could ask Kialoa, but then the data goes to Kialoa and not the community.
So 51 inch Keone all carbon used for 2 and 1/2 years on average 2 times a week. Some weeks 5 times some weeks 0-due to work and life.
What type of numbers (years) are others getting out of their all carbons?
Submitted by Kona J on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 6:48am
51 and 52 foot paddles seem kinda long ;)... Sorry, couldn't resist. I've been paddling with the same 51" full carbon Black Bart since 2003. I use it around 2-3 times a week on average during 1-man season, not at all during paddleboard/SUP season, about once a week out of season, and have missed a couple seasons where I was in the sand box... I'm not the strongest paddler, I tend to baby my paddle, and I don't paddle nearly as much as I would like to, so I haven't broken it, yet. Hope that helps.
Aloha,
Eric
#1 Wed, 05/20/2009 - 7:15am
I think if the lay-up is perfect it could last forever. Maybe there was a defect that led to the breakage, although Keone is designed to flex. maybe onopaddle or one of the other carbon experts could comment.
#2 Wed, 05/20/2009 - 7:23am
If paddling an OC-6 with an all-carbon paddle, the life expectancy is about 1 time on the water. The carbon blades are not designed to handle the stresses the weight of an OC-6 puts on the blade. I've snapped 2 QuickBlades like that (yeah, I'm a slow learner).
#3 Wed, 05/20/2009 - 7:26am
Sorry I didn't mention that I use the 51" only on an OC-1
#4 Wed, 05/20/2009 - 7:29am
Kona J, how do yo get by with only 4 paddles? ;) I have 7 (all Kialoa), including "Sawtooth", my rock hound. All still alive, though have seen some ware and tear (as Sawtooth's name inplies). My original wood is over 10 years old. My youngest (not counting my new SUP paddle) is my 3 year old Keone for my OC-1. It's in 'like new" condition. I have an Axle-I that has been my primary OC-6 paddle for the last several years. It is also holding together well.
#5 Wed, 05/20/2009 - 8:31am
For composite blades and shafts.
Unless its minor surface cracking / chipping of the clear coat ( if it has that ) .... If you see or feel what looks like stress damage, the paddle is already broken.
Time to fix / reinforce or at least really observe it if possible 'cause its only a matter of time if you don't.
aloha,
pog
Koa, I do not believe above applys to yours .. Too beefy.
#6 Wed, 05/20/2009 - 12:20pm
Wood paddles last less than a year if you're a troll. They can last for years if you take care of them, i.e. rinse with fresh water, dry with a towel, keep them away from sun and heat (DON'T leave your paddle in the car on the carpark under the sun...)
I can't help buying new paddles, but most of the time I still use the same, 5 years old wood paddle. Once a year I sand them to the wood, let the wood dry a few weeks and put 4 to 6 layers varnish (Goldspar Marine Varnish).
Also, DON'T throw away a broken wood paddle, One can always fix it.
#7 Wed, 05/20/2009 - 3:45pm
Outside of a cracked all wood Xylo (cranking a uni) they last forever or until I forget them on the beach and someone walks off with them, in which case I hope they snap right away.
#8 Wed, 05/20/2009 - 5:20pm
I had a zre and in one race I heard it tap when it touched the side of my single. a very subtle sound . then later on that year it snapped. it felt like a firecracker going off in my hand.
I didn't even touch the side of the canoe hard. but it was in mid stoke.
#9 Thu, 05/21/2009 - 4:49am
I have six ZRE paddles, most with a flexible shaft, I think they should last at least 10 years. If you smash it into a rock, fair enough, that's one paddle gone, but if you haven't hit anything I tend to think you had a dud. Structurally there is just no reason for it to break paddling an OC1 unless you ding it. I do not use mine for six man paddling, too much load at the start.
I have used the same paddle for three years in all conditions three to five times a week and it is like brand new. I would expect the same from any paddle I bought. (OC1)
#10 Fri, 05/22/2009 - 12:53pm
I have a ZRE and had it for about 11 months now and it still looks new. Bought a used one that's probably about 2.5 years old and only the sticker on it and a few minor scratches on the bladeface shows it's not new.
Best thing about these ZRE carbon paddles is that you have the option to order just the part(s) for it to fix what broke, i.e. order a new shaft to replace your broken one if you don't want to order/buy a whole new paddle.
Fixing a broken paddle (wood, hybrid or all carbon) can always be done. Just that sometimes it won't be/feel the same as it was before or be able to handle the stress when it broke in the first place. Especially if you are steering or turning with it for races.
#11 Fri, 05/22/2009 - 2:04pm
Kona J
If you did not hammer so hard to kick my a$$ all the time, your paddle would last longer;-)
Hanshead, 3 more weeks!!
T
#12 Sat, 05/23/2009 - 4:09am
So i am trying to fix my paddles, one is a Kia Kaha and the other is a xylo. Both have varnish issues and water seepage. The Kia Kaha has a knot in the wood and is starting to crack. was wondering what is the best way to fix both issues?
#13 Thu, 05/28/2009 - 12:19pm
Probably the best thing to do would be to sand the old varnish off and re-coat it with Spar (marine) varnish. After sanding, you should let it sit for a few days to dry out any extra moisture in the wood before applying the spar varnish. After the first coat is dry, light sand with 320 grit sand paper or steel wool and then apply a second finishing coat.
As for the cracking/knotted Kia Kaha, probably best to contact them and see if you can get a replacement shaft to put the hybrid blade onto.
#14 Sat, 05/30/2009 - 12:59am
Thanks E7M
is the Goldspar Clear High gloss Polyurethane varnish with UV protection the same thing as the Marine Varnish?
#15 Sat, 05/30/2009 - 5:36am
You don't re-coat polyurethane over spar varnish and you don't re-coat spar varnish over polyrethane. If in doubt, sand the existing finish off completely. An epoxy coat is another matter. So check with paddlemaker on the type of finish first. I personally prefer to sand off the finish on the shaft and grip, and then rub them with oil. I don't wear gloves because I love the feel of bare wood in my uncovered hands.
#16 Sat, 05/30/2009 - 9:17am
Please, this is a family website.
#17 Sat, 05/30/2009 - 11:28am
I let the sanded paddle a whole week behind the fridge, a warm and dry place...
#18 Sat, 05/30/2009 - 12:19pm
Hiro,
Never would have thought of that one ... perfect. The fridge is like a 1500 watt heater back there. Warm, dry, even heat.
Thanks.
aloha,
pog
#19 Sat, 05/30/2009 - 1:42pm
And it's hidden from the greasy fingers of my kids... ;-)
#20 Sat, 05/30/2009 - 6:17pm
Speaking of greasy fingers, some of those recent Molokai surfski paddlers used a little bit of Vaseline on them to keep the blisters away. Salt water coupled with a carbon shaft has an abrasive effect on your hands over a long period of time. Fortunately, only your hands get torn up and not the paddle.
#21 Sat, 05/30/2009 - 8:48pm
Your warmer waters over there blister up the hands easier than our colder brine , I even saw Clint Robinson raced with gloves!
#22 Sat, 05/30/2009 - 10:00pm
You're dead right about the carbon shaft, last month i paddled the 375kms across Bass Strait ( Aussie to Tassie, up to 9 hrs a day) with a Kialoa Axel2 with the timber shaft. No gloves, no blisters. A week later i paddled my OC1 with a Kialoa Keone full carbon paddle and had blisters after 1 1 /2 hrs.
R
#23 Sat, 05/30/2009 - 11:09pm
Careful Rambo the Cradle Coast outrigger boys are big blokes and likely to come looking for you at Hammo after that last remark.
Aussie to Tassie. Mainland Australia from Victoria to the Island State of Tasmania.
A bit like Hawaii, except it is cold all the time and the only thing they can grow is apples!
Obviously I am not going to Hammo so you can take the hit for us both.
#24 Sun, 05/31/2009 - 12:02am
With "Chopper Reid" living in Tassie, guaranteed apples aren't the only plant growing there !!!!!?????
Ramboscie
#25 Sun, 05/31/2009 - 1:16am
Lat's, yes, da Boss Robbo did use gloves in the last Molokai crossing, which is a no no for Aussies. The evidence is in some of the pictures on surfski.info showing him wearing them. Thanks for confirming the abrasiveness of the warm Hawaiian salt water. You bloaks use to tease me a lot about my "pussy hands," for wearing gloves or padding the shaft of my Bennett paddle.
Rambo, do the same for your carbon shaft canoe paddle as done with carbon wing paddles, ie: shrink wrap a vinyl sleave to your bottom hand grip area.
Life expectancy: Probably a lifetime if taken care of, for you can't go anywhere without them. I still use carbon canoe paddles that are over 15 years old. Just re-epoxy the chipped edges with chopped carbon, sand lightly and you're off again.
#26 Mon, 06/01/2009 - 9:19am
koacanoe
if you sand your shaft to bare wood, what kind of oil do you use to prevent it from getting waterlogged??
#27 Fri, 06/05/2009 - 8:17am
I mean't the shaft of the paddle for those of you thinking otherwise!!!
#28 Fri, 06/05/2009 - 8:19am
suuure
#29 Fri, 06/05/2009 - 11:05am
I use to use that expensive commercially available teak oil for furniture or the marine stuff for rails and decks, but now, I just use what I got in the kitchen like extra virgin olive oil. Whatever works great on my hands, I use. I rub a small amount in with a folded paper towel. I don't sand off the entire shaft, just the grip part. The only drawback with oil is the mildew it attracts.
ps: I forgot, but the biggest benefit for the oiled shaft and palm grip is you don't have to worry about washing off slippery sun block when you apply it at the last minute before you go paddle.
#30 Sat, 06/06/2009 - 12:05pm