How to Make a Wind Paddles for a Kayak

Wind paddles are a recent development in the sea kayak or canoe touring realm. These sails use a scoop design that mounts to the front of the paddle craft and self-inflates in minimal winds. Two toggles on either side of the wind paddle allows precise control over the sail and increases speed on the kayak or canoe. To defray the costs of these sails, make one on your own to experiment with and see if wind paddles are for you.

Things You'll Need

  • Sewing machine
  • Straight edge
  • Tape measure
  • Nylon sail fabric
  • Marker
  • Clear nylon fabric
  • Plastic hoop rods
  • Six to eight plastic quick clips
  • 7-mm nylon cord
  • Scissors
  • Lighter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set out the nylon fabric on a large and flat work area. Measure a circle approximately 4.5 feet in diameter. Use the straight edge to section the circle much like you would a pizza, marking the inside of the circle into wedges. Set the clear fabric on the circle and measure out a 1.5 foot oval in the direct center of the circle. Mark the oval on the clear fabric and on the inside of the main sail circle.

    • 2

      Cut the nylon fabric out along the marked pattern circles. Run the cut edges of the nylon over an open flame to melt and seal the nylon and prevent frays. Take care not to burn or over-melt the nylon.

    • 3

      Sew the wedges together remaking the full sail circle. Use wedges as this adds a flexibility to the sail not gained with a solid circle of the nylon fabric. Cut out the oval shape on the main sail and sew in the clear oval into the center of the paddle sail. This acts as the "windshield" allowing you to see in front of the kayak when the paddle sail is in use.

    • 4

      Connect the plastic hoop rods so they form the same shape as the full circle sail. Place them along the edge of the sail and fold the edges of the sail over and sew them into the edges of the sail. Twist the rods when attached to the sail to fold it into three smaller sized and nested circles when the paddle sail is not is use.

    • 5

      Sew the quick clips to the bottom edge of the sail so you have the oval resting on its long side when in use. Attach the nylon cord to the quick clips and tie another quick clip to the open end of the cord. Clip these into the deck bungees of the kayak. Sew two strands of the nylon cord to either side (left and right) of the circular wind paddle. Pull these back and use the paddle shaft to tie off to when the wind paddle is inflated and in use. Steer the wind paddle via the nylon cord attached to the paddle shaft.