How to Size Canoe Paddles

When a paddler uses a properly sized canoe paddle, his stroke becomes more efficient. Experience helps paddlers determine the exact length, which can vary between different types of canoes and differ when the load in the canoe changes. Although, more experience fine-tunes the size of a paddle, a few rules help beginners narrow in on the right length. Once the canoeist starts using a paddle, he forms a better idea about the exact length needed for his situation.

Things You'll Need

  • Chair
  • Tape measure
  • Paddles of different lengths
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Instructions

    • 1

      Sit down on a chair with a straight back. Sit as upright as possible. You should be looking straight ahead without tilting your head up or down.

    • 2

      Measure the distance between the chair and your eyes. This distance provides you with the shaft length for a bent shaft paddle.

    • 3

      Measure the distance between the chair and the top of your forehead. This gives you the shaft length for a straight shaft paddle.

    • 4

      Double-check the measurements using a third way to check for canoe paddle size. Hold your arms straight out from your sides and bend your elbows at 90 degrees. Measure the distance between your hands. If this differs from the bent shaft paddle measurement average the two numbers. For a straight shaft, add 3 to 4 inches to see if it is equal to the measurement you got from the chair method.

    • 5

      Add the length of the paddle's blade to your shaft length---this equals the total paddle length and the size you should buy.