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Otter tail paddle, when do you like to use yours?

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Jun 13, 2016
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Location
Bonita Springs, Florida
Mornin friends,

I recieved an otter tail paddle with the purches of a used solo canoe I acquired a few years back..the OT paddle mainly sits in my paddle rack without much use but this summer I have been playing with it more and really am enjoying it for solo paddling applications..

anyone here paddle one much? Do you use one while paddling tandem? Just wanted to hear from some of you experienced otter tail fans out there..

Paddle on,

Tyler in Florida
 
Great for lakes. Classic and beautiful to look at. I mostly paddle rivers, so I use stout paddles with a flat blade for shallow water. Usually there is some re-enforcement on the tip.
 
I made a few and I find them a bit inefficient compare to the style I use now that have a lower blade profile(a bit like a teardrop) I also paddle mostly river or a mix of river lakes and I like ha I g more meat at the tip
of the blade!!
 
I use mine for wilderness lake regions. I don’t use them on primarily river trips. For those I use modern style blades from Mitchell and Sanborn. If your paddling is in slow deep rivers the Ottertail/beaver tails would be fine though. Or canals down in FL.

barry
 
Any time I am not in racing mode or training, I will use one of my ottertail paddles. That includes personal canoe camping trips, when guiding or training others in paddle skills, and Boy Scout trips. Otherwise, when in race or workout mode I use a carbon bent. All when solo, or anything up to a voyageur canoe.
 
A well made ottertail excels in deep water solo situations. All paddling should be pleasurable to a certain degree, but silently slicing a 'tail in a heeled canoe through the morning mist is beyond pleasure.
 
The years have flown by and now what once was too small has become a perfect match for all my flatwater solo activities. Use a Grey Owl OT in cherry that I bought back in the early 80's. With it's 5.5" width it is like waving a magic wand. Not for being in a hurry or being on a mission but for enjoyment of the moment.
 
The years have flown by and now what once was too small has become a perfect match for all my flatwater solo activities. Use a Grey Owl OT in cherry that I bought back in the early 80's. With it's 5.5" width it is like waving a magic wand. Not for being in a hurry or being on a mission but for enjoyment of the moment.

I agree, I shortened a cherry otter to use with my sub-50 inch pack canoe paddles and it is perfect for lazy trips in the Hornbeck NT. It may take me a while to get somewhere, but my joints don't hurt when I arrive.
 

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A well made ottertail excels in deep water solo situations. All paddling should be pleasurable to a certain degree, but silently slicing a 'tail in a heeled canoe through the morning mist is beyond pleasure.

yes,amen. and making that heeled canoe spin.. Best results with a canoe with mass like an Old Town XL which is darn near perfect...except for being plastic. I do like my Loon Works Duet. Wood and fabric which is appropriate for a traditional paddle
 
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