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COMPOSITE KAYAK PADDLE: INTRO
Composite is a good material, particularly for a composite kayak paddle, because it is lightweight and resists corrosion – these are two critical features for most kayak fishermen to consider. Apart from that, it is very easy to handle from the fisherman’s perspective – its also a fairly easy product to manufacture. Therefore, you see a variety of design models available in this style, which begs the question, which one is best for kayak fishing? We answer that question below!!
Composite Kayak Paddle – Overview:
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I have created this post on about the composite kayak paddle to provide our kayak fishing readers with tons of important information in one place. You won’t have to go anywhere else to find any information on a composite kayak paddle – this is truly a one stop shop.
Furthermore, I have made sure that all of the information available here is well-organized. You won’t have to endlessly scan for what you are looking for. This post is very easy to scan through, and if you don’t have enough time to go through the entire article, then you can skip to the point that is relevant to you! The quicker you find what you’re looking for, the sooner you are out on the water chasing fish – that’s how we look at it!
I have included a specific section on the basics associated with buying a composite kayak paddle – this will take you through the ins and outs. There is a brief “How to Use” checklist that will get you up and running and using your composite kayak paddle the correct way! I have also included a list of Important Features that you should keep in mind looking to buy a composite kayak paddle – you’ll know how to differentiate the good from the bad!
I have also added a link to My Favorite composite kayak paddle. You should feel free to rely on my suggestion if you don’t want to do all of your own research. Now, its not the ONLY great model of composite kayak paddle out there, but I have used it when I am kayak fishing and have a lot of faith in it! In the latter section, I’ll review this particular paddle and will list down its pros and cons too. You will find all this information in the My Experience section.
Parts of a Kayak Fishing Paddle
Composite Kayak Paddle – Basics
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Your basis composite kayak paddle is made of very lightweight material. This lightweight material is not prone to corrosion or rust (a common concern of nearly every kayak fisherman), and it is very easy to mold into various designs. These are the primary reasons why composite is so popular! Kayak fishermen prefer to use composite kayak paddles because they are lightweight, but there are a number of other reasons too.
Setting up a composite kayak paddle is not that difficult out of the box! No special tools are needed, and you can save your difficult to follow directions for other, more complex, pieces of kayak fishing gear. Composite kayak paddles are available in a range of different sizes and shapes in the market. It is a cheaper alternative to a carbon fiber kayak paddle or a fiberglass model (each of which are quite expensive and may not be best suited for beginner or moderate level kayak fishermen). They are easy to clean, and there are no special maintenance instructions necessary either! Truly “low maintenance”!
Since these type of paddles provide the manufacturers with freedom when it comes to modeling and design, composite kayak paddles are available in different lengths and shapes. They are budget-friendly options without making you compromise on features. All of this is important to know, but won’t make much difference to you while you’re out on the water unless you know how to use this kayak fishing gear – so let’s take a closer look!
How to Use a Composite Kayak Paddle:
Using a composite kayak paddle is simple, but here are some steps that you need to follow nonetheless. Following these steps will ensure a smooth ride out on the water!
- Remove the composite kayak paddle from the box.
- Identify all the components that are present in the box.
- Go through the instructions manual.
- Check to see what type of ferrule is there, whether it is a screw-in type or a snap-in type.
- Locate the shaft and the paddle head and connect them as per the guiding points in the manual.
- Now connect the paddle heads with the shaft.
- You will notice that it is an extremely lightweight paddle – this is good!
- Now practice your paddle strokes in the air once you are done with the assembly process.
- And after you get comfortable with your paddle on the land, it’s time to take it out in the water!
- When you are done kayaking, you can wipe down your paddle using a dry cloth and store in a dry place.
- You can take the paddle apart if you want to store it in a small area, but this isn’t a necessary step.
Side Note: Are you one of the “older” kayak fishermen? Be sure to get a Kayak Paddle for Adults! Or you can skip paddling altogether by using a kayak trolling motor (just be sure to pair it with the Best Trolling Motor Battery)!
Composite Kayak Paddle – Important Features
The composite material is one of the easiest for the manufacturers to mold and bend. Therefore, designing and modeling different types of paddles is an easy task. This allows manufacturers to make paddles specific for kayak fishing purposes!
You will find different lengths and widths on the market. But make sure that you pick the right length of a paddle according to your kayak’s width and your torso’s height. Did you catch that? You are using your TORSO height, not your overall height!
Kayak width is important because, with a broader kayak, you will need a longer paddle to keep the paddling effort low. You will struggle and more quickly tire if the length of your paddle is short, and your width of your kayak broad!
Similarly, if your kayak is slim, but your paddle is long, you will have a very difficult time balancing it. You’ll also have a hard time getting “leverage” on the water – making it extremely difficult to paddle. So the width of your kayak and the length of your paddle must suitably match.
Of course, composite is preferable because it is very easy to mold into different designs. It is lightweight as well. You might find composite paddle heads combined with shafts made of different materials. Some heads integrate carbon fiber. While not necessary, it is certainly a high tech touch!
One of the best features of a composite kayak paddle is that it is extremely lightweight. There are not many kayak paddles available on the market that have lightweight materials and are long-lasting as well. Usually, the lighter the kayak paddle the less durable it is. A composite kayak paddle is a great blend of convenience (lightweight) and durability!
And to add to that, your standard composite kayak paddle comes with an affordable price tag! This allows you to take care of your budget while allowing you NOT to compromise on features, durability or efficiency!
Want another good and durable lightweight option? An aluminum kayak paddle may be good fit for you, depending on your kayak fishing style!
Another great feature of composite kayak paddles is that they are available in different paddle head shapes – there are some truly wacky shapes on the market, thats for sure!
These type of paddles do not cost too much to produce, so even in an affordable price range; you will find a ton of options! You can go with long paddle heads, short ones, broad paddle heads and thin ones, and so on and so forth, each according to your kayak fishing needs!
Make sure that you go for a design that is very easy to use! You do not want complicated procedures that you have to go through to assemble it. Ease of assembly will save you a lot time which you can then allocate to being on the water. In general, a “quick snap-in” or “screw-in” setup will be the fastest assembly process. You need to avoid any composite kayak paddle that requires special tools or know how! Not worth the time!!
Side Note: Another highly “usable” piece of kayak fishing gear is the kayak anchor. While there are many on the market, you’ll be better off with sticking to one of the 5 best kayak anchors!
Another important feature, closely associated with usability, is portability! The user-friendly assembly is not going to do much if your paddle is not portable to store into a tight spot if needed.
There are 2-piece, 3-piece, and 4-piece designs available, and you can choose according to the storage space available at your disposal. If you typically backpack in to your kayak fishing designation, you’ll want a 3 or 4 piece design, as it breaks down into a more transport-friendly size.
If you are a kayak fisherman, then you need to look for a paddle head that comes with a lure retrieval system as well. It will enable you to free your cogs and jigs with ease – frankly, it will end up paying for itself quite quickly in terms of lures saved! There should also be a measuring system available on the shaft of your paddle – this is helpful in terms of measuring your catch without having to pull out your tape measure – it like two tools in one!
Paddle head “angle adjustment” is another important feature that you should consider. It will enable you to reduce resistance in windy conditions. Adjusting your angle also allows you to align your paddle with your particular kind of paddling stroke – this will make you more efficient and will probably save you some blisters as well! If you are interested in avoiding blisters, you might also look into whether a foot control trolling motor would be a good match for you, just make sure to get a good trolling motor battery!
Buy the Best Composite Kayak Paddle:
The best composite kayak paddle, at least for my money, is the model that we’ve showcased above. It has all the features that you need to find in a good quality composite kayak paddle. It is available in three different lengths, including 7 foot, 8 foot, and 9 foot models – ensuring that there is a fit for kayak fishermen os various shapes and sizes.
The paddle heads of this composite kayak paddle are equipped with a hook retrieval system. You can conveniently get your hooks and lures free when trapped in the brush, limbs or trees! This helps it pay for itself very quickly – especially if you frequently get stuck (like I do).
Furthermore, it comes with a measuring system that is laser engraved on the shaft of the paddle. The laser engraving (rather than just print) ensure that you don’t lose your measuring tool as the shaft of your paddle gets wet time and again. You can conveniently measure the fish that you catch right on the spot! It is a very important feature, especially if you are fishing for a particular species that has mandated catch and release size limits!
Apart from that, the paddle comes with an angle-adjustment feature, and you can make adjustments to the angle in three different increments. This is ideal for receiving pressure on your wrists during paddling strokes and allows you to customize your paddle to your body style. It also has 2-piece construction, and you can conveniently store it wherever you want.
The poly fiber construction of this paddle makes it very lightweight and durable – it is truly the perfect mix between light weight and long lasting! I have had mine in my fishing kayak for going on 4 seasons at this point – it still performs just as well today as when I got it out of the box!
My experience with this composite kayak paddle has been great and, like I said, its been a loyal companion to me for several seasons worth of kayak fishing at this point. I have found it very lightweight and super easy to assemble. The 2-piece construction does require some space to fit in comfortably, but that was the only issue that I found with this paddle.
The measuring system of the shaft is laser engraved, and the hook retrieval system on the paddle head keeps you on the hunt (or on the fish, I should say) at all times. One thing I loved about this paddle is that it has a dock -hook cut blade that allows you to use your paddle for pushing off and pulling in from the water edge. This extra utility feature is a clear indication that this paddle has been built by kayak fishing enthusiasts, for kayak fishing enthusiasts!
Here is a list of pros and cons that I have found this is composite kayak paddle. Now, these are only my opinion and a “pro” to me may be a “con” to another, it all depends on your kayak fishing style and needs!
- Lightweight poly-fiber composite construction (lends to durability).
- Easy to assemble.
- Dock-hook cut blade for pushing off and pulling in from the water edge.
- Laser engraved measuring system on the paddle shaft (won’t wash off).
- Lure the retrieval system (pays for itself over the years in terms of lures saved).
- Paddle head angle adjustment (makes your strokes more efficient and comfortable).
- Three different lengths are available, including 7, 8, and 9 feet (one for every shape and size of fisherman)!
- Only three different offset angels for the paddle heads.
I hope that you have found this composite kayak paddle post to an informative and useful guide in helping you learn all of the important details about this awesome piece of kayak fishing gear! I have explained all of the important features that a composite kayak paddle needs to have to be considered “top notch”. I have also included how you can use these features to your benefit and to become a more effective kayak fisherman!
Furthermore, I provided you with my recommendation and how I have experienced my favorite model out on the water. The showcased model of composite kayak paddle is truly one of the best of the best available on the market. It is lightweight, and assembling it is not a big deal either. It is perfectly suited for kayak fishing because it has a shaft with measuring systems, and its paddle heads have hook retrieval systems!
So what do you think about my composite kayak paddle recommendation? Have you had any personal experience with it? Perhaps you have another kayak fishing paddle that you’d like to suggest to the group? What features do you feel are an absolute “must have” in a quality composite kayak paddle? Feel free to leave your comments and suggestions in the section below! We read and reply to every comment and we love interacting with you!