The F1 Skin on Frame kayak - amazingly nimble and fast for such an ugly boat!
I had the pleasure of catching up with Tom Nicholson of Elver Paddles this past week, who was in town catching up with family for Christmas. Tom recently slaved over my new Aleut paddle and also made the Greenland paddle I used for the 2009 Hawkesbury Canoe Classic – two beautiful and functional traditional paddles that I rate very highly amongst my quiver.
The Elver Aleut Paddle (below) compared next to a Joe O'Blenis GP (above)
Tom had brought with him his F1 Skin On Frame kayak, a seemingly wide, squat ugly beast of a boat that I for some reason felt a certain kinship with. I had brought the Stellar SR and was about to test her amongst the waterski boat wake of upper Middle Harbour, a test that would ensure I’d get wet later in the day.
The Stellar SR on top of the Fat Mobile. So long, so white, so skinny. Unlike me!
We paddled out from the Roseville canoe ramp and head downstream. I was astounded at how fast Tom could get his F1 to move – for an ugly fat bastard the thing could seriously move! Whilst we paddled we discussed our thoughts on the Aleut paddle as well as comparing it to the normal Greenland paddles that Tom makes, which was great because I needed something to take my mind off the fact I was really struggling to stay on the surfski in the confused wake of the mad waterski boats around us!
FP and Tom with their respective boats on a protected Middle Harbour beach. Time to swap!
We pulled into a beach and swapped boats – Tom now on the Stellar with the Aleut paddle, and myself squeezed into his F1 and using a carbon fibre Northern Light Greenland Paddle that Tom is now repping here in Australia. The boat felt incredible, fast and nimble with defined chines that bit into the water and made it a heap of fun to paddle. Likewise the carbon Greenland paddle was a pleasure to use, lightweight and strong and easy to wield.
The view from the cockpit - note the spare paddle and kayak sail ready for use
Tom meanwhile was having a blast in the Stellar SR, flying along with the wind at his back into the now choppy waters of Bantry Bay. I couldn’t hope to keep up with him as he pushed the surfski downwind, but when I did finally catch him the grin across his face said it all – he was having an absolute blast.
Tom looking absolutely chuffed at the speed and fun of the Stellar SR surfski
To add to the excitement of the day, on our return to Roseville back in our respective boats I was finally thrown from the ski by some boat wake and had the joy of trying to remount to the snickering of Tom nearby. I got to put the bullet venturi to the test and watched with a smile as the full cockpit slowly drained of water as I tentatively paddled away. And then at the end of the paddle, Tom and I got to share a laugh about the day before going our separate ways.
To say we were an odd couple on the water would be an understatement. On one hand, we had a boat constructed in an ancient fashion, with a timber frame lashed together and its skin stitched in over the top. On the other hand, a vacuum-bagged composite ski designed for speed. And yet on the water we were just two paddling mates having a bit of fun. I may be paddling a surfski now, but I’ll always paddle for the friendship and good times. Cheers, FP
Tags: Aleut Paddle, F1, greenland paddle, Northern Light Paddles, Skin on frame, SOT, Stellar SR, surfski
From top: Mitchell, Elver, Adanac, Adanac, CohoKayak
It is common knowledge that I love, and exclusively use, Greenland paddles. Over the last few months I’ve received a lot of questions from interested paddlers asking me how my different sticks compare, so to answer that I thought I’d write my thoughts on the various paddles here.
(L to R): Mitchell Split Horizon, Elver Tour, Adanac Rock Garden (full and storm), CohoKayak Greenlander
Mitchell Horizon Split Greenland Paddle (USA) – 399 AUD
Mitchell are reknowned for their great paddles and their Horizon GP is a beautiful looking stick. Available as a one piece as well as split, I liked the fact I could use it as a traveller paddle with my folding Folbot Cooper, as well as being able to carry it conveniently on deck as a spare (a key selling point here in Australia). It is finished well, the laminate looks stunning, and it never fails to get a reaction from other paddlers.
It is also extremely light-weight, which is either a positive or a negative depending on how you look at it. I’ve broken one by using power-strokes with it, and have felt its replacement creak a bit if I start to put too much strain through it. Keep in mind I’m a big guy and pump a lot of power through them, which is really not what they are designed for. In the case of more gentler paddling, it is delightful to use and the ability to break it down into two pieces is extremely convenient.
Best for: travel, gentle paddles.
different loom configurations
Elver Tour Greenland Paddle (Australia) – 330 AUD
The Elver paddles are made locally on the NSW Central Coast here in Australia by a great fella with a real passion for the stick. Generally a single piece of Red Cedar (although he’ll use other timbers and laminates on request), each stick is custom made to order, although in general the measurements are roughly the same for each stick.
The care and craftsmanship is immediately apparent, with the stick lovingly smoothed and finished to perfection. The shape is beautiful, with an oval cross-section on the loom, a gentle shoulder and perfectly tapering blades. It is one of the most comfortable paddles I have ever used, sits beautifully in your hand, rolls well and is an all round fantastic paddle.
Best for: everyday and distance paddling
Supplier: Elver Paddles (Australia)
Different shaped looms across the GP range
Adanac Rock Garden Series Greenland & Storm Paddles (Canada) – 750 CDN per set
Made by master wood carver Jill Ellis in Ontario, Canada, the Rock Garden Series paddles were inspired by my regular breaking of paddles, and have been designed and built to with-stand the stresses a power-paddler like myself places on my sticks. The main body is made with quarter-sawn red Cedar with a very fine grain, and then tipped with Purple Heart, an incredibly tough South American hardwood which seems indestructable. The loom is a thick octagonal cross section that offers maximum strength and control over the paddle during sprints, whilst ensuring the paddle weight remains between your hands.
The paddle length on the full GP is the longest of my paddles and was determined according to my height, arm length etc. The storm paddle is the shortest of my paddles and fits perfectly on deck as a spare. The Purple Heart tips make the paddles a little heavier than my other GPs, but this is a small price to pay for the incredible resilience and strength. During some rock gardening sessions I’ve smashed these babies against rocks, concrete and oyster beds, with barely a mark to be seen on them!
Both the full length and storm length paddles perform beautifully. The storm requries a sliding stroke but is so easy to use that my paddling colleagues believe it is faster than the full length paddle! The shorter storm is also great for rock gardening as it is easy to use in tight places.
The paddles are beautifully oiled and have a rich warm smell to them, and come in custom made “paddle booties” to protect them in transit. Mine were also “pimped” with the Fat Paddler logo etched into the tips.
Best for: sprinting, rock gardening, rough treatment
Supplier: Adanac Paddles (Canada)
Comparisons: GPs, a Euro, kiddie canoe paddles
CohoKayak Greenlander Paddle (Australia) – 450 AUD
This is the first GP I ever used, and what lead to my passion for the stick. It is less traditional than the others reviewed here and more of a hybrid design, with a shorter length, wider blade and more pronounced shoulder. Made from laminated cedar and kiri, it is a solid stick with a fair bit of power, although the tips are not as well attached as I would like for rock gardening.
The loom has a nice oval cross section, which when combined with the pronounced shoulder leads to an easy grip with perfect blade alignment, which helps to reduce feathering for those new to GPs. The stick also feels solid and bouyant, and orients itself perfectly when rolling. The shorter length also means it can be stored on-deck as a spare and is easier to store and transport in general.
Best for: GP novices, cruising
Supplier: Sydney Harbour Kayaks (Australia)
The Final Say
I love all of the GPs for different reasons, but if I had to rank them I would put the Adanac paddles from Canada on top of the list, with the locally-made Elver a very close second. The Adanacs admittedly were custom made for me, are tough as nails, and complement my paddling needs perfectly. That being said, I did the 111km Hawkesbury Classic with the Elver because it is such a magnificent light-weight performance paddle, and being locally-made makes it far easier to order and ship. Both the Adanac and Elver paddles are superbly made, beautiful to the eye, and a delight to paddle. Cheers – FP
Tags: Adanac paddle, CohoKayak paddle, elver paddle, greenland paddle, Mitchell Paddle, paddle reviews
Rock Garden Series by Adanac Paddles
After a week in snowy Chicago (brrr!), I’ve finally arrived back home in Sydney, with my new custom made Adanac Paddles. I’ve had these for a week but hadn’t opened them properly until tonight, to get my first close look at them. And I must say, my first impressions are pretty good!
Travel tube, and Adanac paddles in their booties
Full-length and storm-length Greenland paddles
The initial thing I noticed was the incredible rich smell, no doubt owing to whatever secret treatment paddle-maker Jill Ellis has used to finish them off. The smell is mesmerising, as is the beauty of the matching paddles.
Then I noticed the pimped tips – Purple-Heart tips (an extremely hardy Sth American hardwood) with the Fat Paddler logo carved into them.
Pimped paddle tips!
The loom on these paddles is very different from my Aussie-made Greenland-style paddles, which tend to have a fairly small oval-shaped cross section. This feels lovely in the hand but may be a little weak. These Adanac Paddles however have a thick squared-off cross section with rounded corners and feel incredibly sturdy in the hand. I can’t wait to get them in the water tomorrow.
Paddles and paddle booties
Completed with a pair of “paddle booties”, this is the ultimate package for a rough paddle-abuser like myself. Called the “Rock Garden Series”, this new product set from Adanac Paddles looks to be the goods. Can’t wait to test them out whilst kayaking tomorrow! Cheers – FP
Tags: Adanac Greenland paddles, adanac paddles, greenland paddle, Jill Ellis
The Rock Garden series from Adanac Paddles, Canada
Despite our daily news being filled with stories of human suffering in all its forms, there are times when truly amazing things happen where incredible people give of themselves for the happiness of others. One such beautiful person is Jill Ellis of Adanac Paddles, a Canadian paddle-maker well known globally for the quality of her hand-carved Greenland paddles. Jill has been an incredible support to me in terms of repair advice as I habitually abuse and break my Greenland paddles.
This abuse of my paddles inspired Jill to design and create a paddle-set specifically to handle such rough treatment. The set includes a full-sized Greenland paddle and a storm-paddle for in-close rock gardening, with both paddles tipped with the incredible South American hardwood, Purple Heart, for maximum tip strength.
The Rock Garden series - like twin Samurai Swords!
And then I received the following letter from Jill, asking me to test her latest creation and let her know what I think of them! To say I was shocked and surprised would be an understatement, especially since it appears there has been some collusion from my wife and paddler friends to make this happen! So now I have a week until I get to Chicago for a business meeting, and get my hands on this paddle set. It’s going to be the longest week ever! Cheers – FP
—————————————————————————————————————————–
Dear Sean,
I have gotten to know you, not only from the articles on your web sites, fatpaddler.com and greenlandpaddlers.com, but also from your tweets and the multitude of friends in common, both you and I have, on Twitter.
Through the Peeps, I have come to know that you are a very gentle, caring man, who is always paddling the extra mile to help raise money for children in need.
You also have to be the hardest person I know on paddles. Tips coming off, split blades etc due to the rock gardens you love to paddle through.
It would be my pleasure if you would test out my new line of “Rock Garden” paddles (www.rockgardenpaddles.com) and possibly write a review about them if you have the time. Both the Storm and the Regular paddles come with purple heart tips, and the complimentary paddle booties of course.
Storm paddles are also great for getting up close to rock walls, and picking your way through the rock gardens, where you don’t have the space to use your long paddle.
Through devious methods, I have been given your measurements so that these paddles are made to fit you.
When I heard on Twitter that you were going to be coming to Chicago, USA for work, I decided what an opportunity to get these paddles to you. I can say at this moment that the paddles are finished and the packing/travelling tube is almost complete.
I will be shipping the paddles out on Monday morning via courier to your head office in Chicago, where they will await your arrival.
Sean, we can’t have you out there raising money for kids, representing all of us Greenland paddlers, with bits and bobs of paddling equipment!
Just know that these paddles have a wee bit of everyone who knows you, and all us Peeps who root for you, through your ground crews’ tweets when you are out there paddling to raise money for charity.
We are all there, in these paddles you will be holding in your hands, so that you can draw strength from us to paddle your heart out.
Treat them well, keep them oiled and they will never fail you in what you do.
Have them blessed, so they can be extensions of your arms.
These paddles are to be USED, not pampered!
Enjoy, from all of us.
Jill
Adanac Paddles
www.adanacpaddles.com
Dover Centre, ON, Canada
Custom Purple Heart tips!
Tags: adanac paddles, greenland paddle, rock garden series, rock gardens
My new Valley Aquanaut HV RM
Too excited to write! Hopefully the pictures will tell tell enough of the story. Cheers – FP
Split Mitchell Greenland Paddle & Silva compass on the front deck
Daughter Ella (20mths) studying daddy's new kayak
Daughter Grace (3 years) checking the cockpit fit
Fat Paddlers three girls - Ella, Bec & Grace. My turn to play in the kayak please!
Fast, sleek and sexy. Words not usually associated with the Fat Paddler!
Tags: greenland paddle, kayak, mitchell greenland paddle, mitchell paddles, split greenland paddle, valley aquanaut, Valley Sea Kayaks
