Werner Powerhouse Review

(Be sure to click on the links to keep it fun)

First real trip using the new Powerhouse

Socpatoy Summer run ...in Alabama     photo by Phil Foti

I wanted to post about my favorite paddle....I love it

Here's why I think it's a good all around paddle and the best of both worlds for the paddles Werner offers but first.

Background:

I came from wood, and to be honest I wouldn't change my ways. I was using custom made wood carbon overlay paddles. Made by Bailey Johnson at Clinch River Paddle Company. I could give him input to what I wanted and get what I needed. I helped in the beginning in his Slasher design, and brand loyalty ran thru me, (and still does) beside him being my friend and one of my paddling partners.

But then one day talking to him he told me he was going to quit making K-1 paddles.  Well you could have hit me with a brick!...now what do I do? I got like 20 first D' with those paddles and I didn't want to risk losing them...(they are now on the wall, looking purty)

Comparison:

So I started looking around, and a lot the guys I hang out with use the AT Flexy model, and man I love the shaft, it had a great feel to it I have small hands, (insert bad jokes here) my girlfriend had a Werner that she was using with the larger shaft, which I didn't like. (insert more bad jokes here)..so I didn't know what to do...

The ole catch-22

I liked the AT shaft cause it had the feel of wood , but I didn't like the blades, it just didn't have enough bite for me, the Werner had the bite and good "grabbiness". So I picked the phone up and called Werner and....

Customer Service:

So I called and what do you know I got a real person, and we got talking and the guys at Werner recommended the small shaft...I didn't even know they made it. I was sold and didn't even call anyone else.

Custom Paddle:

So after talking to Wayne Dickert at the NOC , and telling him my paddling style and that I was getting into racing, he told me Scott Shipley was using a 203cm (my old paddle was a 202 cm)  So I called Werner back...talked to Werner some more (very patient btw )and asked if I could get the following a Werner PowerHouse, 203cm, 30 degree off-set, with a bent small shaft.

He was silent...I'm like oh man..."we don't carry those"......my heart sank....."but we can make it, will take about 2 weeks"...I was like YES !!!   I don't know many companies that are left that you can talk to a real person AND get a product for YOU...it's rare...and they are not made in China ...(insert flag waving ) another plus in my book.

It might be the Tellico but it's still nice having the power leaving the eddy

Photo by Renee Clark

Real World:

I Class III-IV creek with it, and I use it. I love the powerful bite of the big honking blade, I use the Doug Wellman style of paddling of waiting to the last minute , hit the gas and make my move. The big blade lets me do that. The small shaft has the flex of wood, I like feeling the water , and using the paddle to feel the eddy line, and the small shaft brings this to the plate. The bent shaft helps my right wrist where I broke it years ago when creekin on Waaaaaalden's Ridge. It has really helped me on that. The big blade also helps me cover my mistakes, by hitting the gas and letting me have a quicker recovery time when lining up for a drop, eddy or taking a mis-stroke.

Lessons Learned:

The bent shaft had me learning on training wheels. I had to re-learn how to set up for my roll, and even my brace. I had been using a straight shaft for a looooooong time. (Old Dog-New Tricks) So what I did, I taped a pencil to the shaft on the side right side, with athletic tape this helped my learn my orientation and reference points with that paddle. After two paddling trips I took my "training wheel" off and I never looked back. I now love a bent shaft paddle, it feels natural.

River Wear:

The Powerhouse just has a composite edge to it that can wear down, so I cheat I got some car door edging from a auto parts store , it has an adhesive you heat up, it sticks fine. My four year old paddle has no edging wear at all! I have gone thru like 8 packs? of edging , but it's only like 3 bucks?...so how can you go wrong.

Look at the location of the wrist, "look maw no strain "

Photo by Melinda Stone

Paddle bag:

I think they are a must and I use a Werner paddle bag I found at eBay, I didn't even know any were on the market just stumbled across it and I have seen them now at Rock creek. I didn't see them for a while on the market. I like a paddle bag so the shaft doesn't get scarred up. To me a paddle is a natural extension of your hands and feel is everything. The paddle bag also makes it nice for flying. My trick there is to tape two hiking trekking poles to the paddle to help give the paddle more support in the bag so the baggage handlers can have their fun with it.

I like it so much....

I like it so much that I now have a 4-piece Powerhouse breakdown, I got the fiberglass model, and the red blade is pretty cool lookin

So....

So with that I don't think you can go wrong with it! Go out and try one...paddles are a personal choice, but I love mine...love it enough to write this up and brag on it!