How to Measure for a Greenland-Style Kayak Paddle
There are a number
of ways to measure for a Greenland kayak paddle. We have settled on the
following method to get you started—you can then make adjustments to suit your
specific needs or preferences. (It’s a good idea to have someone help you
with this!)
OVERALL LENGTH: (do not recommend shorter than
82" or longer than 92”)
Measure your reach
as you stand flat-footed and extend one arm above your head, measuring from the
floor to the underside of the first knuckle of your middle finger - where your
fingers would just curl over the top of the paddle. See “TAKE NOTE…”
below for additional help.
LENGTH OF THE LOOM (SHAFT): (do not recommend a loom shorter than 16")
Measure the width
of your shoulders when your arms are at your side, measuring at the widest
point (to the outside of your upper arms at the shoulders). Then mark that
measurement on a broom handle or something similar to a paddle, and then see if
that distance feels comfortable to hold - you want it to feel natural to hold
your arms apart at that distance, with elbows not too close to your body and
not too far away.
Another method:
Stand with arms relaxed & elbows at your side, then bend your arms at the
elbows to a 90 degree angle so that they are perpendicular to your body. Now,
position your hands as if they were gripping a paddle, forming an ‘O’ with your
thumb and index finger. Measure the distance from index finger to index finger
on each hand. This is the approx. loom length.
THICKNESS
OF THE LOOM (SHAFT): (do not recommend less than 1 1/2" (w) x 1 1/8" (h))
Form an ‘O’ (more
like an oval) with your thumb and index finger, touching the tips of your index
finger and thumb together. Measure both the width and height of the oval. The
loom width is the longer measurement, and the loom height is the shorter
measurement.
BLADE WIDTH: (do not recommend less than
3" wide or wider than 4")
Form a ‘C’ with
your thumb and first finger; as tall as you can make it comfortably. The goal
is to be able to grip the blade comfortably and securely with one hand, at the
widest part of the blade - especially while rolling and bracing. Measure the
height of the opening between the second knuckle of the index finger and base
of the thumb.
TAKE NOTE…
The above method for determining
the overall length measurement is just a starting point—it is not an absolute,
especially if someone is short or tall.
Keep in mind - for:
- An average height person—this method can work fine - even another inch or two longer is not a bad thing.
- A shorter person who measures less than 82" for the overall length of the paddle—should add 2” to 4" to the overall length. We do not recommend going shorter than 82" because you will then tend to use a sliding stroke to paddle - like when using a Greenland storm paddle.
- A really tall person—we usually subtract from the overall length, because if the paddle is too long, it will cause a lot of drag, defeating the "less fatigue" factor when using a Greenland paddle. We usually do not go longer than 92" in length.
It
is not uncommon to go with a longer paddle, especially for touring or if you
have a wider kayak.
