Manta Ray (TLC Twist Lock)

I tested the AquaBound Manta Ray Hybrid paddle and was impressed. The increased surface area gave me more power For fitness paddling as well as an excellent fishing paddle also. This in my second AquaBound paddle. I have the Stingray full carbon version in a 240 size.

The Manta Ray is priced very low for a carbon shaft paddle, but the quality is still there. I bought the 230 size so it is 6" shorter than my longer Stingray paddle. I tend to use a higher angle stroke with this paddle. Flex is less also compared to the Stingray.

Overall a great paddle for the price and has the new ferule system which so far has no issues.

I have a Manta Ray TLC carbon/carbon 230cm.
I have used and abused this paddle. It's been used on flatwater with my Folbot Cooper (220 would be better for this application but it's ok), solo paddling a Mad River Adventure 14 canoe (240 or 250 would be better but again it's ok) and paddling a Coleman Fastback inflatable kayak on both flat and whitewater (where the 230 length is Just Right).

I have no complaints. The TLC works flawlessly- I'd love to make some smart-alecky remark like "you have to be smarter than the paddle" but just because mine works great, doesn't mean they all have.

This paddle is light yet strong. I've really beaten on it, it keeps coming back for more. Bashing through class III rapids, prying my way through beaver dams (with a really big, heavy canoe!) the paddle handles it all. I haven't been paddling long enough to say anything intelligent about the "flutter" or other characteristics. The decals don't offend me but I'm not the type to care about such things.

I finally bought a legit whitewater boat, this paddle is way too long so I'll be buying something under 200cm. The AB Shred is top of my list right now.

My wife and I have been using a Aqua-Bound paddles for two years now. I have the Manta Ray, she has a Sting Ray, both with carbon shafts, plastic blades, and twist-lock coupler. We've had no problems, and are very happy. You have to make sure the twist-lock coupler is tight, and perhaps check it once during the day.

As over-50 weekend paddlers we wouldn't notice blade flutter or lack of stiffness that some report, as these are irrelevant to us.

I have a 230cm AquaBound (AB) MantaRay paddle in fiberglass (carbon?) I use in a low angle paddle stroke. It does not have the twist lock...
I too have noticed some flex in the shaft when I really "dig" to pick up speed an but other than that i have had no problem with it.. It's very lite and easy to paddle with. the other thing I have noticed is it seems to have a some "stick-tion" to it ....it doesn't want to come up out of the water cleanly if you overpaddle the stroke, something I get around by flipping the blade 180 degrees, once I get under way , using the blade backwards. It comes out of the water with less "stick-tion" that way. you almost feel nothing as the blade glides up and out of the water when used in this fashion.
The flex in shaft and/or blade is why I only gave it a 8.

I wanted to update my previous review regarding the Twist Lock (TLC) on the Aqua-Bound paddle.

I was contacted by Joe Matuska, General manager and founder of Aqua-Bound paddles, after he read my review of his product in which I stated that the twist lock had come undone two times while paddling. Now keep in mind that I had never even called him to complain. So imagine my surprise when he called me to offer a brand new paddle with an updated TLC design. I did have the Manta Ray but asked him to send a Stingray instead. The new paddle arrived in short order, free of charge. I have never experienced this level of customer service from any other company. Can’t recall the last time the general manager of any company ever called me to try and resolve a problem... ever. Needless to say, I was very impressed.

The new TLC design has a more definite “click” as it locks in. I have used it on two separate occasions (6 hours total) and had no problems whatsoever with the paddle coming apart on me. The new design is definitely superior to the previous generation. In all fairness to my old Manta Ray, the twist lock never came apart on me again aside from the two occasions on it’s first use. I think after I got a little sand in and out of it, the increased friction in the coupler helped keep it from unscrewing.

I’m very happy with my new Stingray which I’ll review in the Stingray section.

Just got back from a 6 day trip on the Tanana River in Alaska. I used my new Aquabound carbon mantaRay paddle with the TLC. Lots of bite with this blade and the blades took a lot of punishment pushing off the ice flowing in the river. Initially I had some problems with the locking mechanism unlocking, but it was my fault. I just had to crank on it when I locked it and it was good to go.

Alas, life comes at us with much hyperbole. One needs to meet it with an appropriate level of skepticism, eh? I got a Manta Ray a few months back. NB: It's the older model with the push-button style ferrule. I can not speak to the newer design, so I'll give my impression of the paddle as a whole. Mine is the Carbon shaft/Carbon blade version that weighs about 29 oz.

The fit and finish are generally excellent. My only "beef" is the somewhat cheesy-looking decals Aquabound (hereafter "AB") uses on the blades. The blades themselves are unique. They are slightly asymmetrical (more symmetric than most Euro paddle blades) and have a face that is both a dihedral and spooned. This isn't illustrated in any of the available product literature. It makes for a very agile blade in sculling, drawing and ruddering strokes. AB describes this paddle as an aggressive, high angle stroke tool. That is how I've tried to use it - for sea kayaking.

Advantages: Way cheaper than competing products from other manufacturers (like 1/2 the price of Werner and Lendal's high-end sticks). Blade shape excels at control strokes. Pretty clean entry and low cavitation. Good weight, on the low end of comparables.

Disadvantages: Some blade flutter. No small shaft available (if you need such things). Uncool decals on blades.

Overall, if I followed the apparent standards of most reviewers I'd have to give this at least a "9". I'm giving it a 7 because: It could be lighter, given the materials they used; The AB product blurb says "flutter free", which is optimistic at best; and the push-button ferrule is old school, but it seems that they've discontinued that without a proven successor. Maybe I'll revise that score upwards after using it over time.