Paddle Technology 101: Offset

Paddle Technology 101: Offset

by Jim Mazzola

a Carolina Paddler article

∞ When it comes to buying a new paddle there is always a discussion about length and to a lesser degree, about feather angle. Recently, the underlying trend has been to slightly longer paddles. Feather angle has a couple of camps. One favors having some degree of feather, usually 30°, reigning on top as outfitters are predominately stocking these. The other camp prefers paddles with zero degree feather (no feather). The zero camp is still alive and well as they ‘hide’ amongst all the ‘2-piece adjustable length’ offerings.

I want to introduce you to a third variable, one which isn’t usually specified but is an important feature in paddle designs. It’s called OFFSET. And to be clear, Offset is a DISTANCE, and Feather is an ANGLE. Too many paddle manufacturers simply get this nomenclature wrong! You don’t specifically call out an offset when you buy a paddle, it’s simply an inherent design feature of a paddle.

Consider the diagram and explanation below. When you place the blade in the water and pull, forces on the blade face can cause the blade to flutter; the dihedral ridge on the front face of the blade ‘splits’ the water to flow more smoothly off the blade face to minimize flutter. Werner Furrer Sr. first incorporated dihedrals into paddles in the late 70’s. It’s the little ridge down the front of your paddle blade.

With more use of ‘offset’ in today’s paddles, the dihedral feature is becoming less noticeable, especially as the offset amounts are becoming greater. Paddles like the Odachi and its fiberglass counterparts, Strike and Surge, are becoming more commonplace on the river. The ill-fated Stealth was also a forward offset paddle, but it had other issues and Werner discontinued its production.

Other forward offset paddles to consider are Lettmann’s LCS 70, Galasports Manic MCQ, and Arca Works Vulcan. The old AT paddle lineup of Super Duty’s, is now resurrected as the Full Circle paddles by Nomadic. There are a few others like the Italian TDM AXEL or the German Prijon Finna, both of which have limited availability in the U.S.

If you haven’t given any of these a ‘test drive’, you should before you commit to your next paddle investment. There is no downside to paddles with more offset, but they do feel different. Granted, these aren’t low-buck paddles, but the feel of a forward offset paddle in the water will be like nothing you’ve tried before. I’ve loaned my Galasports Manic paddle to at least a dozen paddlers and most, if not all, purchased an offset paddle within the next six months!

Offset Dimensions

Here are examples of offset various manufacturers use.  Offset specifications are typically not supplied by manufacturers.

Numbers are in millimeters.

Also coming is a discussion on paddle Swing Weight.