QB V drive. Long term impressions?

[bat paddler]

I have been waiting to see feedback from folks who have had actual experience with this paddle.  Its been out for a while, so opinions must be formed by now.  It is exciting to see the current evolution in blade shapes this year, like the v drive,  the trifecta and Ke Nalu's Konihi.

Anybody with long term use of v drive want to give your reviews?  I for one would love to read what you have to write.

best,

[Easy Rider]

I have been paddling them for about a year and a half - and I love it.
I have a 91 for distance / racing with the Oval tapered shaft - -  a 101 with the round taper shaft for surf - - and a prototype 96 with the oval taper shaft that I just got a month or so ago.
Don't / won't paddle anything else. 

[Zooport]

I'm looking for a new paddle for surfing.  Does that shaft make a lot of difference?

[Area 10]

Fantastic paddle. I have about 20 paddles, and used to use different ones for different activities. Now I just use the v-drive for everything except surfing. I'd use it for surfing too but I'm too damn scared of breaking it, it's that expensive. In this country you can get a secondhand car for the price of a v-drive.

You have to get the blade out early, and it rewards a good reach. But that's just good form anyway. Since I got it, I've just set flatwater PBs time after time. My v-drive is the 91 with oval tapered shaft, and I'm going to get a 101 sq inch one as well, as soon as the opportunity arises. It's good that it can just hot glue together. In fact you could probably just tape it together, the way it is designed. It means you could swap heads/shafts in a moment.

[Foilman]

I tried the V-drive the other day (after a 7mile race) and couldn't notice a major difference to my Kahana elite race. The blade feels a bit heavier. Maybe it's just me though. I'd love to try the trifecta.

Rob

[Off-Shore]

I recently remortgaged our home and bought a QB Trifecta with Tapered shaft, having paddled with a 2012 Starboard Enduro 525 for the last 2 years. Here is my impression of the QB Trifecta with Tapered shaft. It is great in the flat water, racing 12-6 and 14' boards, and touring especially for higher cadence paddling. The catch is solid, and I would hazard a guess better than the Enduro. The Power phase is short which makes you want to reach further and remove earlier. The Recovery phase has this great flexy flicky feeling which I guess must be the shaft flexing and it just pops out really well. . I have also noticed less shoulder pain when paddling for longer times (2 hours +) compared to the Enduro. Those are the good parts...

Now where this flexy flicky feeling of this tapered shaft does not work for me: Downwinding on a bigger board (SIC F16), especially in lighter winds when you need a longer or deeper stroke especially in the power phase to catch bumps and get on the glide. The shaft flexes too much and you simply lose power in the power phase and I have to say frustrated the hell out of me. I guess if I had gotten the regular shaft, this would not be an issue, but I'm glad I did not sell my 2012 Enduro 525 as that baby is coming with me downwinding and I'll leave the QB at home.

[Off-Shore]

Here's a picture comparing the blades and the shafts of the Enduro vs the Trifecta... When I first saw how thin the shaft was at the handle end... I was like Woa.. no way is that going to work.. but I think that's what gives it the flexy flicky feeling at the end of the Power phase, but does not work so well in my downwinds..

Take more shorter strokes I hear you say, and this is correct.. but that is not always possible in downwind transitions from one glide to the next especially when the swell runs past you... there is often just time for one paddle plant, and if you get it set well, then you can literally pole vault into the wave that is coming behind it in one stroke... a most satisfying experience that for me is sadly difficult to repeat often!

Top Pic - Enduro on the Top - Trifecta on the bottom
Bottom Pic - Trifecta Shaft on TOP  and Enduro on the bottom (apologies, could not rotate or flip this for some reason)