Did you try putting two pieces in each side of the stern? Then the weight is more balanced.
You can paddle a fully loaded boat without it changing how the boat performs too much. The big difference you'll see with significant added weight is sluggishness. The roll won't be affected much and you can punch through things easier with the added weight (but I'm talking a boat full of camping gear).

Edited by megspk - 10 Jul 2016 at 9:29am

Just curious, but why use dry bags? Its extra weight and your paddle is waterproof. I put two pieces of the paddle on each side of the center pillar in the stern and use my float bags to hold them in place. Works real well.

cchollnd, I had to use a breakdown paddle that belonged to somebody else that kept it in their boat and due to dirt and sand getting into the joints, we almost were not able to put it together at all. I've talked to others who have experienced difficulty with breakdown paddles getting exposed to sand/dirt when not connected, and being forced to send them back to the manufacturer. Some breakdown paddles do a better job of creating joints that are not as vulnerable to elements but in turn they are not the type of paddles that I would actually want to paddle with. So I keep my Werner Powerhouse breakdown paddle inside a dry bag - purely to keep the joints from exposure to sand while not assembled.