Grip Tape?
Without the tape, your brand new steering blade is just a really big paddling blade. No tape means it won't stick to the hull and therefore is uselss as a steering blade. If you want to use it to steer, put the tape on it.
#1 Thu, 11/22/2012 - 11:41am
How about grip tape that is used on steps to folks from slipping?'
Yep. Exactly.
#3 Thu, 11/22/2012 - 12:47pm
Get a non-slip tape that is used for bath tubs. Grip tapes that is used for steps, or a skateboard is way too rough.
#4 Thu, 11/22/2012 - 1:11pm
I have an older wood Pure steering paddle with no grip tape and I have no problem with it sticking to the side of the canoe when I poke. Maybe the carbon surface of hybrid paddles is more slippery. I guess the new Pure steering paddles have carbon all the way down the blade to make them stronger.
The non-skid tape used for boats is pretty good. You can get it at a Marine supply shop. It's not cheap.
#6 Thu, 11/22/2012 - 3:25pm
I'm not sure if you can call a steering blade useless without grip tape. Lot's of old time steersman never used it and to this day prefer to not use on their steering blade. You might want to try it without the grip tape.
#7 Thu, 11/22/2012 - 3:58pm
For some time now, the paddling community has been obsessed with 'light-weight' equipment, paddles included. As paddle shafts, blades as well, were made thinner to achieve the 'lighter' steering paddle, the shafts often snapped under the extensive pressure. By this time, the paddling community was accustomed to the smaller diameter shaft. Manufacturers therefore, continued to keep the steering shafts thin but continued the 'round' of the shaft to be extended down into the blade face. This strengthened the shaft and helped to minimize the snapping shafts. However, this 'rounded' protrusion at the top of the blade face does not allow the blade face to sit flat against the hull thereby causing the blade to 'rock' back and forth when placed in the 'poke' position and allows the rushing water along the side of the hull to 'catch' the blade and throw it backwards. Thus the evolution of non-skid strips.
These non-skid strips are severely damaging to both koa (any wood hull) and fiberglass hulls. Using them is no different than taking a sheet of sand paper to your car....rub a little off today, a little tomorrow and before you know it, you've got a hole.
We must keep in mind that Hawaiians, and all Polynesians, steered canoes for centuries without the assistance of non-skid strips. Today, many steerspersons can't steer without them....shameful. This is an example of how the outrigger culture is slowly eroding.
#8 Thu, 11/22/2012 - 5:29pm
A steering blade with the rounded shaft extending down into the face of the blade will pose 'sticking' issues without the grip tape. A steering blade with an all-flat face will, 1) eliminate the need for grip tape, 2) prevent unnecessary damage and maintenance costs on the hull and, 3) respect the canoe as our ancestors did.
It's also worth mentioning that we often see gouges in the gunwales of our koa canoes caused by carbon fiber blades on the exchanges. There are also gouges on the sides of koa hulls caused by the hard edges of these carbon fiber blades. These resulting actions are disrespectful to our highly reverred koa canoes especially because they are avoidable. A composite canoe deserves the same respect.
Good luck with whatever decision you make.
#10 Fri, 11/23/2012 - 8:05am
The grip tape is the rubberized stuff ... Any Ace, HD. Lowes etc. has it....
Paddles should have smooth ( rounded ) wetsanded edges as well.
aloha,
pog
#12 Fri, 11/23/2012 - 10:18am
A bunch of people in my club use that grey tape on their steering blades. When I asked them what it was called nobody knew as most of them had gotten the tape from a friend rather than buying it. Through extensive use of the internet I found that this tape is 3M Safety-Walk INDOOR TREAD. this tape is for putting on the ground for grip when wet. the outdoor tread is like sandpaper while the indoor tread is gummy and rubbery while still grippy. I used my mudbrook steering blade for a season without tape before I had to refinish it. I didn't see a need for the tape but after refinishing my paddle and realizing how beautiful it looked I decided to put the 3M safety walk on it to protect the finish. It works perfectly and stays on really well
#13 Fri, 11/23/2012 - 9:22pm
Steering blades often have strips of grip tape on the face of the blade. This is apparently to protect both the blade and the canoe. I can see how the tape might protect the paddle but wouldn't the abrasive tape do damage to the side of the canoe? I have seen quite a few of our club canoes with a worn patch right where the steersperson pokes.
My Kialoa Biscuit has these strips of 'protective' backing on the blade so I'm not sure how a steering blade would handle without the rough tape....would there be an issue with the blade not 'sticking' as well to the canoe if the paddle did not have grip tape on it? I have a brand new Pure steering paddle in my hands right now and it looks gorgeous! I'd prefer not to add grip tape to this beautiful paddle if possible.
Submitted by ho'okele on