When you buy a new Paddle for your Stand Up Paddle-board, unless it is an adjustable Paddle, you will need to cut it to the correct length. This guide is to help you know which length is ideal for you and how to cut your paddle to the correct length.

The tools you will need are: Hacksaw, sand paper and some tape or glue. The best thing to use is a hot glue gun.

Correct Paddle Length for an SUP paddle

The Laird Hamilton method, (who is gonna argue?), Hold the paddle in a vertical position, blade down on the ground, and your hand should easily close over the handle at full reach.

Starboard method, (I do not know where this originated), Hold the paddle in the vertical position Blade up, where the paddle starts to "flare" out from the shaft should be level with your eyes.

The main diference I can see, is that the Starboard method would allow for a longer blade to penerate deeper into the water, other than that, either will work well.

For Surfing, you tend to crouch a little lower, so a slightly shorter Shaft length makes sense. For fitness paddling on a thicker board, you may wish to have a slightly longer shaft.

CUT and GLUE

Measure and Cut - Assuming you were using the Starboard method, you could take a full length, un-cut paddle and use a piece of string or a measuring tape to measure the distance between eye-level and where the blade flares out. Then after you have taken this measurement, you can remove the T-piece and use a Hack-saw to cut the measured amount from the tail-piece end.

Sand and Glue - When you have made the cut and sanded the edges, you will need to fix the T-piece so that it does not rotate while you are using it. You can use tape, but it will eventually come loose, and you do not want to leave tape in the ocean. One method I have heard of, (but not tried yet) is to use a hot glue gun to glue the blade on, if you re-heat the glue with a heat gun you can remove the T-Piece later. Other than this you can use 2-part epoxy.

If your T-piece comes loose, you will loose sense of which way the blade is pointing, this can cause you to loose control, (especially when applying a lot of power) and hit the board with the paddle edge.

There are 2 other really good descriptions I found on the web that you can also check out.

Kanula Method

Starboard Method

Of course if you buy a board from our shop, we can cut it for you.

Other hand tips for your New SUP Board

Attaching the fins

The side fins are fixed using an "FSC" key which is a 3/32 allen key or "Hex head". Starboard supply this tool with all their boards that have these fins.