Open Forum: Zero Degrees for Creeking

Zero Degrees for Creeking

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Forum Name: Open Forum
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URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7086
Printed Date: 09 Oct 2025 at 4:26am

Topic: Zero Degrees for Creeking

Posted By: LuckyLiam
Subject: Zero Degrees for Creeking
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2008 at 12:18pm

I've know some play boaters to go with a zero degree paddle rather than 30.

Now I'm hearing a few creekers that are also going this route.

Any thoughts on the plusses/minuses for creeking?

I'm curious to know what the advantage is beyond the obvious keeping your hands stationary.

Replies:

Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2008 at 12:25pm

My brother uses a 0 degree for all paddling and doesn't have any issues...

I think the whole theory of the feathered paddle was based around racing. Unless you have 40 mph upstream gusts, I don't think you really need to worry about wind resistance in creeking.

I use a 30 degree and can barely feel a feather on it.

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Posted By: Kiwi
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2008 at 12:31pm

having always used a feathered paddle I can't use a 0 deg. feather without feathering the blade.

I could probley get used to it though after a while.

I don't see any advantages/disadvantages between a 0 and 30 deg. feather.

Posted By: lazaruslong1108
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2008 at 1:33pm

Play boating zero degree rules
Creeking/river running it doesn't matter what ever you are used to is good
So if you only are buying one paddle go with a zero

Posted By: water wacko
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2008 at 5:17pm

You can back deck roll on both sides with ease with zero degrees

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"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~Howard Thurman

Posted By: James
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2008 at 7:32pm

I think that back deck rolling is harder with a zero degree paddle myself. You have to twist your wrists much more due to the lack of natural feather in the paddle.

Playboating is better I think because both blades are in the same spot all the time so placement is easy for me.

Creeking is a tough call. I have always argued it two ways and I still don't know which one is more critical. If you were to run a drop lets say over 10-15 feet and land with your paddle across the chest, chances of a broken shaft are very high or injury to face, since the blades will meet equal resistance on both sides. A feathered paddle with give on one side releasing the pressure and decreasing the chances of a break.

On the flipside when your dropping a water fall higher than you wanna use a boof on, zero feather does seem to have less shuttle and pull on landing, most likely because both blades slice through the water without the natural twisting that happens when you have a feathered blade.

Doubt it helps, just use what you think is more comfy

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Posted By: LuckyLiam
Date Posted: 17 Jul 2008 at 10:10am

Thanks for the opinions. I'll have to give it a try before I drop a couple hundred.

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