Dragonboat Blog | The Dragonboating Resource

dragonboat talk for dragonboaters.

The RAAB dragonboat paddle is definitely an unique paddle. I thought Chinook would be the first to release a paddle with different colours coated onto the paddle, but RAAB have done a good job as well and actually created coloured carbon weaving on sections of their paddle. The RAAB dragonboat paddle is hand made by Ondrej Raab and is one of the lightest paddles on the market, weighing 400g or 14oz. One thing that stood out to me was the integrated non-slip material on the shaft which looks like it’s been heat shrinked on (It helps a paddler get better grip). Though time and again I still prefer the elliptical shaft and RAAB has used a ribbed carbon fiber shaft that is completely cylindrical. (Trust me you will notice the difference when paddling!)

The paddle is finished with handmade quality (extremely detailed) and compares to the ZRE paddle of similar construction and design. It is constructed in three pieces and funnily enough I was surprised that they still used wooden handles. The wooden handle is softer to hold and is quite comfortable, but I still prefer carbon handles. I understand RAAB now offers the option of a carbon fibre handle. The blade is polished nicely and even has the RAAB logo embossed on the bottom edge. Furthermore the edges are clear coated adding more protection from splitting and allowing for a smoother entry and exit into the water.

Finally any colour can be added to the weaving allowing it to stand out for teams and individuals who want something different. A dream paddle to use!

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Who are ZRE?
ZRE stands for Zaveral Racing Equipment and their website is www.zre.com. ZRE is one of the leading manufacturers for top-performance paddles and you can see their awards won in the past here: http://www.zre.com/morenews/award.html

The ZRE Dragonboat Paddle:
I’ve always been asking myself before the day I got my hands on one of these, what is so special about them? Is it because they are made in the USA, uses aerospace material or they just look good? I read a lot of comments from other paddlers from the other side of the world and they kept saying these were the best paddles.

Okay, I am going to give my biased opinion as I have tested, assembled and sold numerous of these paddles. Firstly yes, the ZRE dragonboat paddles do live up to their reputation for being a very light paddle and it performs very well through the water. They have been designed from a paddlers mind combining the best possible materials that are used in aerospace and for Formula 1 racing. Currently these paddles weigh around 410g to 450g or 14.5oz to 16oz depending on what grip and length you choose.

What I like about the ZRE dragonboat paddles is that it provides flexibility. What it means is there are many different grips you can choose from and also many repair options if your paddle breaks.
The Grips: You can choose from:

• Plastic Palm
• Carbon T
• Carbon Palm
• Wooden T

It’s good to have the different grips because they allow for different conditions and each grip feels customised to your own needs. The other thing I mentioned is repair options. Because the ZRE dragonboat paddle is assembled in 3 separate pieces, if you one part gets damaged it can be easily replaced, rather than sending the whole paddle back. Most paddlers are also able to do this themselves. The downside is the paddle doesn’t look like a Burnwater or Apex Accelerator paddle showing a consistent carbon fibre weave. If you’re not fussed about how the paddle looks, then the ZRE will provide you with exceptional performance.

One last thing I did notice about this paddle is the sound it makes through the water on a return stroke. The resonating sound is a “whip” and if you heard it with a full team of 20 paddlers using ZRE paddles then you definitely know they’re coming.

Overall a great well balance dragonboat paddle that I would highly recommend for competition.

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This is one of the best paddles I have ever tried and used. It did come a long way as there were many modifications and lots of feedback given to the manufacturer from customers.

The Apex Accelerator dragonboat carbon fibre paddle is a seamless one piece. The paddle has been well designed and engineered (from Canadian Men’s Masters Coach Jim Farintosh) to give it the best strength to weight ratio . As the paddle only weighs on average of 400g or 14oz it still retains a frame that is very strong. Additionally as there is a foam core all the way through the blade and shaft, it helps keep it’s rigidity.

I like how it has an elliptical shaft that has been molded into the blade giving any dragonboat paddler comfort and grip. The blade cuts into the water on entry with ease and the paddle pulls back with some flex through the catch. One thing I didn’t like is the rubber caps to enclose the handle. I have seen a few of them pop out during races but not a major issue as they can be replaced.

Overall this dragonboat paddle is very light, nicely finished with a distinct carbon fibre weave and feels great to use.

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The Bracsa Sport dragonboat paddle is very similar to the Chinook paddle, with one slight difference – it has a moulded wooden handle (or palm grip). I found that to be quite strange, as they say it’s a complete carbon fibre paddle, but in fact they have a wooden component – the handle. I personally feel that wooden is not as strong and with continuous wear and tear it would not last as long as a carbon fibre handle. Only pro with a wooden handle is it’s a softer material which can be better to hold over longer distances, but the added extra weight is not worth it.

The whole paddle is constructed in three pieces, with a round carbon fibre shaft holding the blade and handle together. At the weight of 490g or 17oz, it’s a mid-range paddle and priced at $295 US, it’s a bit pricey for a carbon fibre / wooden paddle.

I would look at the other paddles on the market first before considering this one.

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Simon River Sports (SRS) is a Canadian based company offering a range of canoe, kayak and dragonboat paddles, which shows this company knows what they are doing. Though their dragonboat paddle range is limited they offer a mid-range paddle, great for beginners. This is the SRS Elite 1 Carbon, and it is a well finished solid dragonboat paddle. This paddle is constructed in 3 pieces and after testing this paddle in a competitive situation I like how it enters the water without plonking as the blade edge has been sharpened. Additionally instead of having a flat face blade, they have added a little convex onto the blade face which gives more traction in the water. Many paddlers have argued that this provides less resistance and the “feels” not as effective. I will leave that up to a paddler to decide.

The SRS Elite 1 Carbon has a round shaft as opposed to an elliptical shaft which I have mentioned that I don’t like the feel of, leading to less grip coverage and comfort. Also I noticed that the handle is hollow and if water does get in during a race it can weigh the paddle down. Normally this paddle weighs around 450g-510g or 16oz-18oz depending on the length you choose. In comparison to other carbon fibre paddles in the market, it is considered to be a mid-range carbon fibre paddle.

The verdict: I do like how the blade is well finished, but the shaft and handle need some rethinking. Particularly the handle, as it’s hollow water can flood it and makes this paddle awfully heavy.

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The Merlin CD2 once again is easily identified by it’s distinct fork displayed on the blade. This time it not only stands out, but it is actually lighter than most carbon fibre paddles weighing at 400g or 14oz. Merlin is known to be the innovator of technology, as they have shown in their “Excalibur” paddle. You can read more here.

At first when I tested this blade, I felt it was light with little strain on the shoulder. Though after being accustomed to the elliptical shaft design, I felt it wasn’t as comfortable to use for a longer period of time. Additionally the handle is slightly smaller compared to a Burnwater and Apex carbon paddle, and can cause blisters for a person with average size hands.

I have to admit, at first I didn’t take a liking to this paddle because I had seen some manufacturing and teething issues – shaft and handle breakages. Furthermore the external paddle finish was not complete showing unpainted areas of the fork and inconsistent clear lacquer. This was from version 1 and Merlin has since address these issues, shifting their manufacturing from Malaysia to China. Sometimes it does take the new version (CD2) to be released to have these issues fixed. Since then I have not heard many more problems except for more advancements, and Merlin plans to soon release the next lightest paddle in Dragonboating. At the price of $197AU, it is considered to be the cheapest and lightest dragonboat carbon fibre paddle available.

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