SKAGIT CF

I (5' 10") Played with a few paddles, and settled on the Werner Skagit carbon Fiber (small shaft 230 cm), I love it, however on many occasions I'm not the one using it, I end up letting others use it or try it, the only person whom does not prefer it is my Dad, the reason he is taller and is on a wider kayak (it is about 30 cm too short for him) though he liked the weight (a lot lighter than most of the paddles we have used. All of the little people (kids, short and small handed) like it best

Great Paddle ! At 63 year's old this is a great paddle for me..... Using The ( Skagit CF ) has Very little if any stress on this Banged up Ageing Vessel my Spirit Has been Riding In ! ! ! New to kayaking this year I picked out the kayak and my son Helped me with the Decision on which paddle to purchase / along with the Staff at Saratoga Paddle Sports Shop . ( Stafford's Bridge Rd Fish Creek in Saratoga Spring's NY ) . Thank's Mike For the ( Skagit CF ) Father's Day Gift : ) ......... 2018

The Werner Skagit CF is a great lightweight paddle at a reasonable cost. The 2 piece model gives you detailed control over the feathering angle. I used this paddle in the ADK 90-miler last year, and had no discomfort in my arms after any of the 3 days. The paddle looks brand new after a long paddling season.

I have owned both the FG IM and the CF IM, so this review will cover both Skagit paddles. Currently own the CF IM.

First off, the Skagit is a great design for rec kayakers. Its light weight, smooth stroke really help save energy. I find the blade to be absolutely flutter-free during the stroke which allows a looser grip. I use my paddles to push off shore, push stuff out of the way, and sometimes keep my boat still while I'm getting into it, so I stuck with nylon blades of the Skagit.

The Smart-View ferrule is great, lots of adjustment, locks up tight every time, but most importantly when its locked together, there is nothing protruding from the shaft surface, its as close to a one-piece paddle as you can get while still having the storage/transport convenience of a two-piece! The ovalized grip area is also nice, its a lot more comfortable than a fully round shaft.

There are a lot of paddles in this price range, but I feel Werner is at the top because of the 0 flutter and the best ferrule design in the business. Honestly for most rec kayakers, the FG is fine. The CF is a tiny bit stiffer in the blades, and a tiny bit lighter, but its not worth the (full price) extra cost. I got mine on sale, and personally decided it was worth it then. At full MSRP, the Skagit FG IM is a great paddle for the rec kayaker or going for partial day tours.

I have the Skagit CF IM, and I love it. It's my first paddle, and it has served this beginner very well. Its oval grip is quite comfortable, and it has a solid feel - but is also light enough that I can handle it all day without tiring. It's also very durable and holds up well to rock encounters

I have two of these Skagits. They are both the carbon fiber shaft and carbon fiber reinforced blade. The first one I bought 4 years ago. It had a feather system with holes and a locking pin. I drilled a few more holes to gives some more positions. It has had no issues of reliability or premature wear...still like new.

I recently bought a second kayak and wanted another paddle so that my family could take out both kayaks at the same time. I was so happy with the first I bought the current model which now has an index system so you can select various feather angles set at 15 degree increments. The joint on both are tight and no flexure in the joint or the paddle shaft or blade. Both are the same length 220mm (I am 6' tall). Besides the much improved feather indexing system I didn't see any changes in material or shape which I thought were always perfect for me. The handle is slightly oval...just enough to help you maintain a good grip and know where the paddle is oriented. The color of both the blade and handle is black. This color is OK but if given a choice a non black color on the handle might be preferable as when sitting out in the hot sun the black can get fairly hot. I sometimes will put it in the water to cool it down before starting to paddle.I also thought that a brightly colored paddle blade might be useful as an emergency safety "flag". I am thankful that they resisted going to an oversize blade. The blade enters the water cleanly and pulls straight without feeling you are dragging a huge "barn door" through the water like an oversized blade does.

I give the older model a 8 and the new one a 9 based on its excellent feather index system and it would have been a 10 if they had made the whole thing bright yellow or at least the blades. But I wanted this version and features so I decided I could accept the color.