Gear Locker: Black Magic Paddle, Nanika Caddy

December 05-January 2006

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
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by Alex Matthews

Magic Paddle

Located in Canaan, New Hampshire, Mitchell is a small specialty manufacturer of white water and sea kayak paddles. Owners David and Peggy Mitchell both have backgrounds rooted in international kayak slalom, so it’s no surprise that they know what it takes to build a serious paddle.

Although a variety of materials are used in their line, Mitchell is best known for their wooden paddles, and their sumptuous combination of wood and carbon fiber.

The Black Magic is just such a hybrid of wood and composites. The shaft is laminated with cedar, ash and walnut. The blades are carbon fiber over a cedar center core. The Magic is a really attractive paddle, and seldom failed to generate attention during my test paddle, from kayakers and non-paddlers alike.

Weighing in at 32 oz, the paddle is a little heavier than some other all-carbon offerings. In use, however, I wasn’t really aware of the Black Magic’s extra heft. The builders say this is due to the fact that the majority of the paddle’s weight is concentrated in the shaft, while the blades are incredibly light. The result is a very low ‘swing weight’, which is how weight really affects a stroke. The Black Magic is a one-piece paddle, so there’s no possibility of wobble or wear at the ferrule—there isn’t one. This does make transport a little less convenient, and precludes carrying it as a split spare on the stern of your kayak, but there’s nothing quite like the solid feel of a one-piece. You’ll also have to order your paddle with one fixed feather angle, because no adjustment will be possible after the fact.

The Magic’s shaft is distinctly oval in shape, providing a comfortable grip and clear indexing for orienting the blades. Mitchell doesn’t include drip rings, but there’s no need for them as very little water runs off the blades onto your hands.

The blades measure approximately 7.25” wide x 17.5” long. The power face is flat, edge to edge, but quite curved along its length, resulting in a very solid ‘catch’ when planted in a forward stroke, generating lots of power. The back face is smoothly humped where the thickness of the wooden core down the centerline feathers out to the very fine laminate at the edges of the blade.

Although the finish on my test sample is very good, it isn’t totally flawless. There are a few cosmetic pinhole bubbles in what appears to be a clearcoat lacquer on the blades. But on the water, the Black Magic’s blades enter with silky smoothness, without a hint of splash. This paddle is quiet! The catch is great, with the curved face providing a lot of bite. While there is a bit more flex to this paddle than some all-carbon sticks, it will be kinder to your tendons and joints after a long day on the water than an overly stiff paddle. On braces and rolls, the magic feels predictable and powerful, generating lots of support and gliding through the water beautifully.

This paddle will appeal to kayakers with a distinctly vertical, or ‘high angle’ stroke. For this reason a shorter overall length will work best (my sample was a 210 cm). You do need to be fairly strong and have a decent stroke to get the best from the Black Magic, so weaker paddlers may find it a bit overwhelming. But if you appreciate a more powerful blade with a great catch and a really smooth feel in the water, be sure to give the Black Magic a try. You’ll like it.

The extreme fineness of the carbon edges suggests that the Black Magic is unsuited for abusive applications where bashing off rocks or digging clams is the order of the day. But given the care it deserves, the Magic should last for many years.

In fact, Mitchell did work a little ‘magic’ on me. I seemed to fall prey to a bout of romanticism while testing this paddle. I imagined how long years of use would change it. The areas where my hands gripped the shaft would become slightly worn, subtly shaped by the passage of time and nautical miles. I pictured a small yet distinct groove, where my new wedding band would work the wood. Fiberglass, all-carbon, or plastic paddles just don’t seem to have this effect on me. Perhaps it’s because those materials have no inherent tactile connection to us. Wood is different in that respect, wood is a little bit special.

Weight: 32 oz

Stock Lengths: 215 cm, 220 cm, 225 cm

Stock Feather Angle: 60°

Suggested Retail: $419 US

Mitchell Paddles

24 King Hill Road
Canaan, NH, 03741

Phone: (603) 523-7004

Fax: (603) 523-7363

www.mitchellpaddles.com

 

Nanika Caddy

The Nanika Kaddy is a kayak cart built to carry the weight of your boat so you don’t have to. It’s a simple machine. This means that there are few parts (six total) to fail or lose, and that assembly and takedown are very straightforward operations.

Sturdy 1” PVC piping is bonded together to create the frame. Eight closed-cell foam ‘collars’ are fitted round the top tubes of the frame to provide cushy protection between your boat and the cart. The frame is approximately 13” x 14” x 7.5” and doesn’t disassemble further, but will store easily on deck. Its top tubes are ‘V’ shaped in order to cradle a kayak hull, so it sits very nicely across the peaked deck of most boats when the cart frame is flipped upside down.

Two 10” pneumatic wheels provide a plush ride on a stainless steel axle. A single cotter pin and one axle collar complete the package. To disassemble the unit, simply pull the cotter pin, remove the collar, and slide the axle and wheels out of the frame.

I used the Nanika with a couple of different kayaks to see how it would handle different loads. To carry a kayak, the manufacturer recommends centering the cart under the boat for the best balance during transportation. Webbing straps anchored to the PVC frame are used to lash the kayak in place. Plastic side-squeeze buckles tighten the webbing. They adjust easily and do an excellent job of securing the load, but have a tendency to rub the gelcoat. The addition of a piece of webbing behind the buckle would likely solve this minor problem.

The first kayak I hauled to the water was just shy of 20’ long, which proved to be less than ideal for the Nanika. Towing a kayak by its bow toggle places the boat on a slight angle. The long length of my first test boat resulted in very limited clearance between its stern and the ground. On the return home, I moved the cart further back along the hull which solved the clearance problem, but didn’t provide the most balanced ride.

Next, I tried the cart with a 16.5’ kayak. This was ideal. I was able to balance the load by placing the cart at mid-ship and never had to worry about clearance at the stern. Even quite long distances on a good surface would be very comfortable with this setup. The rig is also surprisingly nimble, negotiating turns and even performing 360s with ease.

While the wheels and axle store easily below deck, the frame is larger. I actually managed to fit it through the generous stern hatch of one of my kayaks, and stored it in the ridiculously huge space forward of my foot pedals in the other. And, of course, it does securely store on deck very happily.

The Nanika will appeal to those who favor sturdy construction over compactness. While I do have some questions as to how the PVC will age over the really long haul because PVC tends to become a bit brittle with time, this cart is burly, works very well and is definitely built to transport boats with minimal fuss.

Suggested Retail: $150 Canadian

Nanika Kanu

Tel: (250) 468-1703

Web: www.nanikakaddy.com

© Alex Matthews is our Gear Editor and co-author of the award-winning instructional DVD “The Ultimate Guide to Sea Kayaking”. matthewsalex@hotmail.com © Photos by Rochelle Relyea.