How to Cut Your Fixed Lenght Paddle (1 piece)

Woohoo! You finally purchased the 1-piece performance paddle you had your eye! Now you want to know how to adjust it to your height. Here’s how to cut your new paddle so that it becomes your best ally on the water! 

You'll need:

  • SUPer important: the seal connector that is already on your paddle 
  • Epoxy glue 
  • Sandpaper (180 to 280 grit) 
  • Blowdryer (we’ll explain this later) 
  • Electric tape 
  • Hand saw (not electric) 
Taiga board - Comment couper et coller pagaie 1

STEP 1 - Find the right eight for your paddle

Place the paddle next to your body, blade pointing downwards. Raise your arm in the air, keeping it as straight as possible. The ideal height for your handle is at your wrist.  

Taiga board - Comment couper et coller pagaie 2

STEP 2 -Mark your paddle

Once you've found the correct height for your paddle, mark it on the shaft with a tape, just below where you will make your cut.  

Taiga board - Comment couper et coller pagaie 3

STEP 3 - Cut your paddle 

Using the saw, cut the shaft of your paddle, just above the electric tape. TAKE YOUR TIME! There's no need to rush into it. Just gently follow the line of the electric tape. If you go too fast, the blade of the saw could bend under pressure and make an uneven cut. 

STEP 4 - Sand the interior of the shaft 

Before gluing the grip, lightly sand the interior of the shaft and the extension of the grip. Sanding will make the carbon more porous, allowing the glue to better hold in place.  

    

STEP 5 - Slide the paddle into the seal connector 

Gently slide the seal connector over the shaft. We'll explain what to do with it later.   

STEP 6 - Prepare the Epoxy glue 

The moment of truth: gluing it all together. Be sure to read the instructions on the epoxy glue tube prior to using it. Prepare a flat surface (a piece of cardboard will do) on which you will put the epoxy glue. 

Pro tips & tricks  

For the grip to be properly align with the blade, place your paddle upside down (passive side facing the ground). As your floor is flat, it will serve as a reference to ensure that the grip and the blade are both straight. 

STEP 7 - Glue the grip to the shaft 

To glue the grip to the shaft, make sure to apply the glue ALL AROUND the tip of the grip as well as inside the shaft of the paddle. Be careful as epoxy glue can be extremely adhesive. Insert the grip in the shaft making sure to quickly remove any excess glue. 

STEP 8 – Position the seal connector 

Once the grip is properly aligned with the blade of the paddle, slide the seal connector to where it belongs: over the joint.  

STEP 9 – Use heat to seal the connector to the joint 

It's hairdryer time! The heat from the hairdryer will shrink the connector and seal the joint between the shaft and grip. 

TIP 

To ensure that your connector is properly sealed to the shaft, use the flame of a lighter. 

There you have it! You are now a paddle pro and equipped to win any race on the water!  Trust us, your paddle will soon become your new best friend.