CBH Makaha Glass Shaft take apart kayak paddle

We have both black and pumpkin color bladed Makahas in the 230cm size for now, so please specify the color choice for the 230's in the "notes" area of the shopping cart when you order. If you want a 220, we have mostly black, and on the 240 size (unless we are overlooking some hidden boxes) we have only the pumpkin color.

The CBH Makaha Glass Shaft ($75) is a copy of the original Carlisle Magic paddle in that the blades are essentially identical in profile, but there is no oval grip for the right hand like the Carlisle, and the shaft is smoother and of slightly smaller diameter. The sales literature for this paddle and the CBH "Tour" model indicates that they both have oval grips; they do not.

One note we need to mention is that most of the last batch of Makaha's we received have noticeable blem's, especially on the orange/pumpkin 230 size. Almost all have small scratches and tiny roller marks (from the epoxy coating process) on the shafts, and every one has a black mark and / or a small pinched spot near where the blades meet the shaft on one side where it tapers to the shaft insert. The pinched area is about 1/4" by 3/4". None of the foregoing will diminish their functionality nor is any part of the blade that's in the water affected, but they were cosmetically rougher in several aspects than any previous batch of CBH paddles we've had. We just want you to be aware of this before ordering.

At 2 pounds, 7 ounces, they are a smidge lighter than the Carlisle Magic. We try to always order these with orange blades so they can be seen if you drop one in the river, but as mentioned at the top we did have to take some with black blades on this recent shipment in both the 220cm and 230 sizes.

The Makaha's blades have shown to be quite strong and we have quite a few in the field being used for easier whitewater, though these are really a "rec" paddle, which means multi-purpose. The shafts may be somewhat more brittle than American made fiberglass material would be. One individual actually broke two, but the only other person who snapped one that we know of so far drove his boat into the paddle going over a 6' drop. Apparently he had dropped the paddle and it got in front of him. So far most everyone else seems to be doing fine with these, just understand they aren't intended for more demanding river use and you should always carry a spare on the river - even with the strongest American made product. You never know when you'll lose a paddle in a flip. As an ocean paddle the Makahas are excellent and the best value going in a glass shaft unit.