Blades
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  A nice picture of one of the powerplaypaddles Manik blades, alongside a Lomo neoprene spraydeck, on a Double Dutch concept playboat. The location is an ace playwave in Briancon, French Alps. Photo copyright PowerPlayPaddles.co.uk      
River Blades
 

Our river blades range from an excellent entry-level FibreGlass paddle to incredible Top Spec, molded Kevlar/Carbon performance blades.

Check below (press the red button!) for information on each of our river blades.

We have five distinct blade shapes in varying constructions. Choose your style...

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Sea Blades

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Again, our range is designed to cater for the full range of paddler ability. Our entry-level Fibreglass blades offer excellent value for money and are far lighter than plastic blades of a similar price. Check them out!

Our range of paddles is designed to cater for all types of paddling and paddler, from young novice to grizzled veteran. We offer several models of blade and shaft types; enough options to suit any paddler and pursuit.

All blade and shaft options can be purchased seperately, or built to order. You can choose your components and we will build them to your length and feather.

We are working on an internet shopping service, but for the moment please email the guys to ask any questions, place an order or organise payment.

Contact:

ali@powerplaypaddles.com

george@powerplaypaddles.com

 

 
Quicklinks
  Shaft Technologies

Contact -

Ali, George, Scott

Links -

Lomo, Dave Brown, Brasca

 

Our shafts come from NZ company Killwell Fibretube, who specialise in specialist composite designs. Each shaft type is best suited to particular uses. Check below for specifics.

 

 

 

Our entry level blades, the Manik and Isis, offer excellent value for money, coming pre-built on a Fibreglass straight shaft. Our standard river blades, the Pivot and Blast, come from New Zeland paddle-makers Rochfort.

Our Top-Spec river blades come from olympic standard paddle-makers Brasca. These are for the paddler who demands the highest quality and performance from their blades. The build quality and finish of these is absolutely world class.

Gary Fawcett paddling the spectacular Chateau Queyras gorge in the french alps. Gary's been using Powerplay Manik paddles for the last few years.
Chateau Queyras gorge - Gary Fawcett
PowerPlay

 

  • Manik

For a clean and simple entry level paddle for general purpose use check out the Powerplay Manik. This comes pre-built on a Fibreglass straight shaft.

The blade is glassfibre, graded for strength towards the tip and reinforced at the spigot. This gives a light but strong blade, ideal for river trips and general purpose use.

 

Weight (blades only, pair): ?00g

Materials: Glassfibre, carbon spigot reinforcement

Colours: Red

Length/Feather: 196cm, 45°, Fibreglass

 

  • Isis

The Isis offers the same lightweight and handling properties as the Manik, but has a greater surface area, allowing more force to be exerted in a single pull. This is therefore suited to the larger or stronger paddler for general use and gives the high initial pulling strength required for playboating and surf use.

 

Weight (blades only, pair): ?00g

Materials: Glassfibre, carbon spigot reinforcement

Colours: Red

Length/Feather: 196cm, 45°, Fibreglass shaft

 

 

The Powerplay Manik

  • Lightweight
  • Ideal for beginner to intermediate paddler
  • Excellent value

 

 

The Powerplay Isis

  • Lightweight
  • Ideal for beginner to intermediate paddler
  • Sized for larger paddlers
  • Excellent value

 

Rochfort

 

  • Pivot

Our mid-range river blade, the Pivot

Rochefort: "Designed so that when boofing a drop you can get the blade area closer to the center line of the boat for a straighter launch. When carving with a stern rudder, this shape presents more vertically in the water, giving a more efficient stern rudder, greater turning power and less drag."

 

Weight (blades only, pair): ?00g

Materials: Reinforced Glassfibre

Colours: Various (including yellow, red, blue) Please specify.

Length/Feather: To Spec

 

 

  • Blast

The Blast is essentially the same blade as the Pivot, on a larger scale. The increased surface area of the blade gives far greater pulling power in the water, but obviously requires greater effort to be exerted. It is therefore better suited to either larger paddlers or those who want extra force behind their pull. This can be a great advantage in the surf or playboating.

Rochfort: "the same characteristics as the Pivot for larger paddlers or those who prefer a larger blade."

 

Weight (blades only, pair): ?00g

Materials: Reinforced Glassfibre

Colours: Various (including yellow, red, blue) Please specify.

Length/Feather: To Spec

 


Rochefort Pivot

  • Stable in the water
  • Incredibly strong
  • Hardwearing
  • Value for money

 

 

 

 

Rochefort Blast

  • Stable in the water
  • Incredibly strong
  • Hardwearing
  • Sized for larger paddlers
  • Ideal for surf/playboating
  • Value for money

 

Brasca

 

  • Competition Pro

Our highest spec river blade, the Comp Pros are an awesome blade of the highest pedigree. For years now Brasca have been making Olympic standard slalom and race blades. These are designed along the lines of the classic asymmetric Kinetik design, primarily with Slalom use in mind. The Kevlar/Carbon prepreg construction is flawless, offering an incredibly strong and durable blade. The tip is aluminium reinforced, offering great protection from paddle-grinding rocks. A blade for those aspiring to top-level paddling, as well as those who are already there.

 

Weight (blades only, pair): ?00g

Materials: Prerpreg Kevlar/Carbon, Aluminium tip

Colours: Kevlar/Carbon

Length/Feather: To Spec

 

Brasca Competition Slalom Pro

  • Outstanding performance blade
  • Excellent design and build quality
  • Incredibly light and durable
 

 

As all long-distance sea paddlers know, light is right. Our paddles are all glass and composite designs, which are far lighter than plastic blades and are still incredibly durable. For those who want a simple, classic sea paddle design that's lightweight and low cost; look no further than the Fibreglass Open Ocean.

The designs also come cut from Prepreg Carbon Fibre, which offers even greater performance at lower weight.

 

 

A photo looking onto Much and Eigg from Ardnamurchan. This was taken by Iain MacDougall on his epic sea paddle from Erskine Bridge to Skye Bridge. Iain paddled with powerplaypaddles Open Ocean Pro blades. Read his trip report in the 'Latest' section for details of his adventure.
View from Ardnamurchan - Iain MacDougall
PowerPlay

 

  • Open ocean classic

An excellent choice for intermediate sea paddlers as well as those just starting out. This comes pre-built on a Glassfibre straight shaft.

The blade is glassfibre, graded for strength towards the tip and reinforced at the spigot. The blade design reflects the classic asymmetric touring design, with a long, narrow blade shape allowing the user to vary the pulling surface while paddling.

These blades are ideal for sea paddlers who wish upgrade to a lighter, more advanced paddle than their current plastic/wooden/sheet-metal paddles. They offer a lightweight, high performance paddle which are excellent value for money.

 

Weight (blades only, pair): ?00g

Materials: Glassfibre, carbon spigot reinforcement

Colours: Red

Length/Feather: 216cm, 85°, 12k Carbon Shaft

 

    • Open Ocean Classic Carbon

Classic design cut from Prepreg CarbonFibre. This offers greater rigidity at a lower weight.

 

Weight (blades only, pair): ?00g

Materials: Prepreg Carbon Fibre

Colour: Black

Length/Feather: To Spec

 

  • Open ocean Kinetik

Based on the popular river design the Kinetik is a narrowed version for paddlers who are familiar with this shape through river paddling. Gives a more positive feel through the water and would suit those who paddle more aggressive sea water.

 

Weight (blades only, pair): ?00g

Materials: Prepreg Carbon Fibre

Colour: Black

Length/Feather: To Spec

 

    • Open Ocean Kinetik Carbon

Kinetik design cut from Prepreg CarbonFibre. This offers greater rigidity at a lower weight.

 

Weight (blades only, pair): ?00g

Materials: Prepreg Carbon Fibre

Colour: Black

Length/Feather: To Spec

 

The Open Ocean Classic

  • Classic asymmetric touring design
  • Lightweight
  • Value for money

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Open Ocean Classic Carbon

  • Exceptionally lightweight
  • Classic Asymmetric touring design
  • Ideal for intermediate to advanced touring paddlers

 

 

 

The Open Ocean Kinetik

  • Aggressive river style shaping
  • Lightweight
  • Ideal for more aggressive sea use
  • Value for money

The Open Ocean Kinetik Carbon

  • Exceptionally lightweight
  • Aggressive river style shaping
  • Ideal for more aggressive sea use
  • Suited to intermediate and advanced sea paddlers

         

 

Our three straight-shaft designs are custom made for us by New Zeland carbon-smiths Killwell-Fibretube. The three constructions reflect three distinct needs from a shaft, namely lightweight performance for touring, durability for river/surf and playboating and strength and flexibility for extreme use and abuse. We also offer a carbon Crank shaft for a more comfortable paddling position on long trips.

 

 

Iain MacKinnon surfing around on a playwave in Briancon, France. The blades Iain is using are power play paddles Maniks. The boat was a prototype kevlar/carbon playboat from Double Dutch.
Playwave in Briancon - Iain MacKinnon
Shafts

 

  • Fibreglass straight shaft

A simple, relatively lightweight, entry-level shaft for general use. Ideal for a beginners paddle for easier graded rivers and flatwater use.

 

  • 12k Carbon - Open Weave

The 12k Carbon shaft is an open weave construction. This allows for a certain amount of flexibility in use. This option is very light and comfortable to use, ideal for touring or sea use. Slightly more flexible in use than the 100gsm, this offers an excellent option for all-round use.

 

  • 100gsm Carbon - Close weave

The close weave 100gsm carbon shaft is a stiffer shaft than the 12k, intended for whitewater, surf or other rough use. It offers excellent strength to weight and is probably our most popular shaft. Our standard shaft for river or surf paddlers and playboaters.

 

  • PoloX - Reinforced Kevlar/Carbon

The PoloX shaftwas built to our standards by Killwell Fibretube for use in seriously aggresive situations. Kevlar/Carbon will absorb hard impacts rather than splitting as Carbon/Glass is prone to and the high stress areas are also reinforced. These are built to withstand the abusive lifestyle of polo leagues. All of our Brasca polo blades are built on these and they have become the popular choice for shaft replacements in the Scottish divisions. Feel free to order one to cut and fit yourself or get us your blades and we'll fit them. In most breakages your blades are still fine; we can simply replace the broken shaft. And really, if you've never broken a pair of blades during a game, you're just not trying hard enough!

 

  • Rochfort Crank - Carbon

Crank shafts have become increasingly popular amongst touring and sea paddlers due to the ergonomic position it offers the wrists. For long distance paddles Cranks do offer a better grip position and thus less painful forearms and fingers, though they do take getting used to and are a matter of personal choice. The Glass/Carbon construction is still very lightweight. A good option for extended use on sea and lochs.

 

 
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