Greenland paddle leash

I don’t particularly like or use them, but many times I have seen beginner to medium experienced kayakers drop their paddles upon exiting.

If at sea and alone, in those typical situations, a leash would be a backup and keep other options open. And there’s nothing like backups and options.

There are other situations like being in a narrow kayak while drinking/eating/photographing/dayhatching/bailing that a leash might be a temporary solution for paddle control. And of course, paddlers with ability/handicap issues might be well served by various types of leash solutions for the particular issue. On this particular instance, I could well see the utility of a pfd belt leash for an on water arm injury.

And in re-reading the above, I guess these situation would have to include a greenland paddle as well – although it does seem to be a stretch in some circumstances . . . but if the option was paddle loss? For a beginner, alone and in conditions?

I think a leash would have a possibility to interfere a bit with sliding strokes or extended paddle roll, sculling support, recovery techniques, or leanbacks . . . but might not be a deal breaker though.  Maybe worth trying out variations [coaming, waist, wrist connections] to see what works best while really thrashing around, heh heh.

Paddle finish seems to typically be oil, but I see no real reason to eliminate a slight textured varnish finish.  Personally, I would just  use a hard ‘finish’ if I was concerned about paddle strength or abrasion resistance and wished to add a little appropriate [to a specific paddle issue] glass reinforcement.

And not too many 2 pc greenland paddles out there, although I do have [given to me] one with a fairly un-aesthetic stainless ferrule that I wish wasn’t there.   I haven’t used it but it just seems counter to whatever looks and feels that a greenland paddle should be. If you are really interested in this, we could meet halfway somewhere and you could borrow it until things get more normal.

anyway, some ideas