Did a nice Southside downwinder today with Covesurfer, Headmount, and Steven Ross and his lovely wife. Boyum went on his ski, Steven and Cathy in a twomacanu, Gregg and I on Bullet 17's.

Great conditions, lined up nicely with some big drops on the outside that were easy to link up into long rides. I was paddling hard for one when I felt a funny click-pop in my paddle. Not good. I took a look at it after the bump and glide, and didn't see anything wrong. Went hard again--click-pop. I told Bill and Gregg that if I disappeared it would probably be because my paddle broke.

I fell in on a hard turn combination and took some time to check the blade. It wasn't wiggling, but I could feel a little play. I twisted hard in both directions while pushing that blade into the shaft and the play mostly went away. I kept going and it felt more or less OK, just a little funny, which I put down to the power of suggestion. Boyum trailed me in his boat all the way to Andaz. I don't know what the plan was if the paddle came apart. Probably just pointing where I was going to prone paddle in to the beach. I was pretty far out because that's where the best bumps were. Bill wanted me to angle in, but I didn't want to. I'd rather get some good rides and have to prone in a longer distance than miss out on good bumps.

Just before I got to Andaz Mark Raaphorst buzzed me on a foil. I was in a good bump when he went by, going flat out, and he blew by me like I was anchored. Actually more like I was flying a B52 and he was in a P51.

When I got home I decided to check out the paddle. Got the heat gun out but before I melted any glue I took off the electrical tape I used to seal the blade joint and the blade fell right out. I replaced shafts a few weeks ago, going to back to a 100Flex shaft, and I didn't add any new glue. Seemed solid at the time, but it wasn't. The handle was pretty sketchy too. I've done this so many times I've become sloppy.

I replaced shafts a few weeks ago, going to back to a 100Flex shaft, and I didn't add any new glue. Seemed solid at the time, but it wasn't. The handle was pretty sketchy too. I've done this so many times I've become sloppy.

Now you have me thinking if I put new glue on all or if I missed some....

put in lots of glue if you can as I made a mistake of less is better.

Ok I know what I will be doing the next rainy week-end....

Part of getting a really good bond and seal is heating the shaft as well as the blade or handle.

At least I was still doing one thing right :-)