Dragonboat Blog | The Dragonboating Resource

dragonboat talk for dragonboaters.

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.

For more reviews visit our paddles review section

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.

You can see other reviews in our paddles review section

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.

You can see other reviews in our paddles review section

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.

You can see other reviews in our paddles review section

The Grey Owl “Jet” certainly does not live up to it’s name. I’ve tried this dragonboat paddle and also read reviews and mostly say the same thing. This paddle is too heavy to use and has lots of handle breakage problems. I personally didn’t like the feel of the paddle because it was so stiff, applying too much force causes my shoulder to pop out of place.

Unfortunately Grew Owl has used too much material in the paddle hoping that it will make it stronger, but in fact it is poorly laminated and has added extra weight. The paddle weighs on average 560grams or 20oz, which is heavier than most carbon fibre paddles out there. It is more comparable to a fibre glass paddle than a carbon fibre as the feel and the weight really stand out.

Overall, I would consider the other paddles that are lighter and around the same price if I were to purchase a dragonboat carbon fibre paddle.

Grey Owl Jet Carbon Fibre Paddle

You can see other reviews in our paddles review section

It’s a really nice paddle with a polished carbon fibre weave finish – similar to a Burnwater Reactor paddle. The thing we love about this paddle is that it’s a complete one piece construction which doesn’t have a joint showing between the blade and the shaft compared to other carbon fibre paddles currently in the market. Though after trials of this paddle within a boat, I found that the paddle is a bit soft and can be dented easily if you get hit by other paddles.

The downside of this paddle is it’s weight at 550g or 19oz and is comparable to a Typhoon8 which is around the 500 – 520g range. At the price of $199 AU it’s a reasonable starter paddle for a person trying out dragon boating and wanting something a little lighter than a wooden paddle. My preference though, is still the Typhoon8 paddle if I were to spent that amount of money.

Land & Ocean: Eagle

You can see other reviews in our paddles review section