Another Ke Nalu Blade Thread

[spirit4earth]

Elite is high grade carbon, more pretty fiber's & less epoxy, Xtuff is slightly lower grade carbon, not as pretty, like flat black, More epoxy to fiber ratio than the elite. So it is a little heavier than the elite.

Xtuff is not fiberglass, it is carbon.

I think we're getting shafts and blades confused.  I have the xTuff shaft, which is carbon, but the xTuff Wiki blade is reinforced fiberglass.  So, I'm wondering about differences between the carbon Elite Wiki blade and the fiberglass xTuff Wiki blade.

[burchas]

Elite is high grade carbon, more pretty fiber's & less epoxy, Xtuff is slightly lower grade carbon, not as pretty, like flat black, More epoxy to fiber ratio than the elite. So it is a little heavier than the elite.

Xtuff is not fiberglass, it is carbon.

I think we're getting shafts and blades confused

For a good reason. They can't even get it right on their website. But you are right, the xTuf Wiki blade is a Fiberglass reinforced Blade and therefore heavier than the elite Blade.
It will affects the swing weight of the paddle and obviously, the overall weight. The xTuf shaft on both xTuf Wiki Paddle and Elite Wiki paddle is carbon.
I think Kanalu can do a little better in the naming department

[mrbig]

+1 Burchas. I wasn't confused, but my minimalist style certainly could be confusing.

The additional weight as you pointed out will affect swing weight, but probably have a minimal, if any, impact on shoulder issues due to differences in stiffness between the blades..

[mdsurf]

There is a difference in the weight with the Xtuf and the Elite Blade in a Wiki you are looking at 500 grams difference.  But with +- diff in Manufacturing it might even be less than 200 grams.

[spirit4earth]

I think I'll go with the Elite Wiki 74 when I get the money.

[spirit4earth]

Has anyone paddled both a Konihi 84 and a Wiki 74?

[burchas]

I think I'll go with the Elite Wiki 74 when I get the money.

I think you made the right decision. It's not like you have many options
Available to you within the system at this range. If there was a Mana 74,
I would tell You go get it.

You already know you are not comfortable with the Konihi so going down
In size means going up in comfort level.

If you're willing to look outside the system then you have more options
But it is almost certain you'll have to spend more money for the quality
Since you'll be buying a whole paddle rather than just a blade.

[PonoBill]

Elite is high grade carbon, more pretty fiber's & less epoxy, Xtuff is slightly lower grade carbon, not as pretty, like flat black, More epoxy to fiber ratio than the elite. So it is a little heavier than the elite.

Xtuff is not fiberglass, it is carbon.

I think we're getting shafts and blades confused.  I have the xTuff shaft, which is carbon, but the xTuff Wiki blade is reinforced fiberglass.  So, I'm wondering about differences between the carbon Elite Wiki blade and the fiberglass xTuff Wiki blade.

It's been a long time since I had anything to do with the company other than using the paddles, but I think this is atill true: The xTuf shaft is a fiberglass core wrapped with unidirectional carbon. The design gives it early flex until the uni carbon engages and then it's very firm, The standard xTuf is 60% carbon, the xTuf(S) is 70%. Uni gets very stiff very fast. The Elite shaft is 3K Carbon twill instead of Uni. The 90Flex is a layer of glass and the rest carbon, the 100Flex is all carbon. The xTuff blade is fiberglass, or at least it used to be. Elite blades are 100 percent 3K carbon twill.

I paddle a Koni 82 for downwind--it's a very powerful blade if you engage it fully, might not be great for you. The Wiki probably makes more sense.

[puget sound]

Thanks for the explanation, PonoBill. Is this the right order of Kenalu shaft stiffness?

xTuff....xTuff(S)....90Flex....100Flex
flexible..................................stiff

[spirit4earth]

Thanks for the explanation, PonoBill. Is this the right order of Kenalu shaft stiffness?

xTuff....xTuff(S)....90Flex....100Flex
flexible..................................stiff

That's right. 

[PonoBill]

Pretty much. The xTuf(S) is kind of weird in that once it finishes it's initial flex it's almost as stiff as the 90Flex.

[Area 10]

All the Ke Nalu paddles are quite stiff though, compared to some.

I've got paddles by Jimmy Lewis and Naish, for instance, that are like noodles compared to my xtuf wiki. Some of my QBs are flexier, too.

[JimK]

I LOVE KeNalu paddles and I really can't stand "Noodly" paddles (or "noddly anything)

JimK
Extreme Windsurfing

[eastbound]

i have wasted a lot of $$ straying from my kenalu mana xtuf---i always return--i have ceased straying

[spirit4earth]

I'm just going to switch my Konihi to an xTuff shaft.  Lane believes the Konihi actually has the softest catch of all the blades.