For all you purists out there, look away. But for those who want a paddling experience that doesn’t involve lots of fancy boat-handling or rough water, there is a solution to the incessant water drips in your lap. Drip Rings.
As a photographer who relies on getting photographs from a kayak, constant drips down my Greenland paddle can be an issue. Saltwater drips are best kept away from cameras and lenses — the less exposure the better!
Drip rings are pretty simple. After using countless other solutions, including carved rings, elastic bands like hair ties (these work reasonably well), I had a student who bought plastic drip rings meant for spoon-bladed paddles and install them on her Greenland paddle. They work really well. Despite our modified Greenland paddles, I had no trouble getting these to slide over the ends with a little stretching:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ML0ZATS?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
The next best reasonably inexpensive option that should fit appears to be:
They do a great job with keeping a significant amount of water off your lap, and placement near your hands means that you can continue to use a Greenland the way it was meant. I also found i had no trouble shifting hand position for extended strokes or braces or sculling strokes.
Here’s where I put them, although you will of course move them around to find a perfect position for your stroke.
I tie on 1/4 inch black elastic rope/cord. Loop it twice, tie and let about 2 – 3 inches of the end dangle. easy.
Product must have changed quite a bit since 2015. Very stiff rubber. Opening too small for my paddle and does not stretch. Well made and ships fast.
That said. They may fit different paddle. Just not mine. I should have checked diameter of opening, so my bad. Came with a bunch of O rings. Good price.
Thanks! This was very useful