Factors that Affect How Long your Paddle will Stay Afloat
Paddles can be more than just a tool to propel your kayak on the water. They are also helpful for catching fish and other aquatic animals, steadying your boat, and making it easier to climb into or out of boats with slippery decks.
And they can make kayaking a whole lot more enjoyable too! So when buying a paddle, you might want to consider what type of paddles float (or don’t!) in your kayak.
The majority of kayaks on the market today come with paddle rests that are designed to float. Many prefer these since they provide a secure place to put your paddles while paddling and provide a convenient handhold.
Some of these kayak paddle rests have buoyant plastic components that prevent them from sinking in the water when not in use. Others include rubber or plastic foam [that floats] with a small compartment at the top for storing your paddle. If one of these kayak paddles rests, you can easily stash your paddles in the water for a quick recovery.
Inflatable kayak paddle floats are another option that can take care of storing your paddles and keep them from sinking when kayaking in open water. You can hold onto one side of the inflatable paddle float while it’s submerged and use the other side to get back into your boat. Some are equipped with a small rope so they don’t float away.
With all of these options, there are a few things that you should consider when buying a paddle. Mainly, you want to ensure that the item is designed for use in kayaks and not other types of boats.
Make sure that the item has buoyancy – either by itself or through its attachment to the kayak – so that it will float safely and keep your paddles from sinking.
Yes, kayak paddles float, but not for very long. They may last for a few minutes or less than a minute, depending on how buoyant they are and the shape of your paddle. Let’s look at the factors affecting how long your paddle will stay afloat.
1. Buoyancy
Buoyant objects float on water because they push the water out of the way. Things will be more buoyant if they are made of dense materials and less buoyant if they are made of materials that are light in weight.
If material is denser than water, such as cork, it will sink because it is heavier than the amount of water it displaces.
2. The shape of your paddle
A paddle with a wing shape will have a higher buoyancy because there is more air space underneath it than in an oval-shaped one. The air space under the wing/wider side provides more area to displace water and thus more excellent lift or buoyancy.
A paddle with a wing shape will have a higher buoyancy because there is more air space underneath it than in an oval-shaped one. The air space under the wing/wider side provides more area to displace water and thus more excellent lift or buoyancy.
3. The type of material used to make the paddle
Paddles typically have one of three materials: hard plastic, soft foam, or hollow fiberglass. Paddles made of hard plastic are the most buoyant, followed by soft foam and hollow fiberglass.
Paddles made of carbon fiber are less buoyant than those made of glass fiber or fiberglass because they are less dense; paddles made of glass fiber are less buoyant than those made of Kevlar because they are more resistant to nylon and polyester; Kevlar is more resistant to nylon and polyester than carbon fiber. Wood is more buoyant than plastic and metal.
4. Surface
A flat surface has less buoyancy than a round one because, with the former, the sides of the paddle will be at greater angles from the water surface, thus creating greater water displacement.
A rounder-shaped paddle will have better buoyancy and increased lift because it is wider at the top and narrower at its base, thus increasing volume under water and generating additional upward force.
Greater surface area means more water is displaced. A plate has a greater surface area than a needle of the same volume, so it should replace more water. However, because it also has a greater mass than the needle, it will displace less water for its size and is less buoyant.
5. Temperature
Two objects of the same weight will sink at different rates depending on their temperature. Hotter things will be less dense than cooler ones, sinking more quickly and displacing more water.
As the water gets warmer, it expands and becomes less dense; warmer water, along with the paddle being made of less dense material, will decrease buoyancy over time.
6. The amount of water in your kayak
Paddles with less water in the kayak will float longer than ones with lots of water. The more water in the kayak, the more stability you’ll have when you’re paddling, which will help your paddle stay afloat. A larger paddle is going to be more buoyant than a smaller one.
7. Weight
The greater the paddle’s weight, the less buoyant it will be. The density of your material will determine how much your project will float.
A piece of cork has a density of 22.00 grams per cubic centimeter, while the density of Styrofoam is 6.70 grams per cubic centimeter. Thus the Styrofoam will float higher than the cork, except in water less than 10 centimeters deep. A heavier object will sink lower in water than a lighter object.
8. Water
In salt water, the buoyancy of a boat or kayak, including paddles, is reduced by as much as 40% compared to fresh water because of the salinity.
9. Waves
Waves decrease in width; the water will move away from the paddle and create less displacement, reducing buoyancy.
10. Wind
A paddle driven by wind will not generate as much lift as with no wind because there is no oar to push through the water as there would be on a standing oarsman; this decreases the paddle’s weight and increases its buoyancy.
