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Stand Up Paddle => SUP General => Topic started by: SouthCounty on May 30, 2019, 06:40:51 PM

Title: Black Project Paddles
Post by: SouthCounty on May 30, 2019, 06:40:51 PM
Anybody have any experience with these? seems like they are making a good push in the sup market

Title: Re: Black Project Paddles
Post by: Dwight (DW) on May 31, 2019, 02:58:54 AM
Yeah, I have the Surge model. It is the lightest paddle on the market. The blade doesn’t take any adjustment or learning when you paddle one the first time.
Title: Re: Black Project Paddles
Post by: Area 10 on May 31, 2019, 04:24:46 AM
Yeah, I have the Surge model. It is the lightest paddle on the market. The blade doesn’t take any adjustment or learning when you paddle one the first time.
How much catch does the Surge have? I’ve ordered the extra small new one (72” square inches maybe?) but I’m worried that I have gone too small. I love my 71 sq inch QB vdrive, but that is a design that is known to have an extremely firm catch.
Title: Re: Black Project Paddles
Post by: Dwight (DW) on May 31, 2019, 05:14:06 AM
I have the 82. My wife has the 77. I’m 6’2 185 lbs. 82 feels right for me. The 77 is small enough that I’m more likely to slip the blade, than propel myself forward.

With the 82 laid on top of the UV-88, they match exactly until you get near the neck. The UV-88 looks maybe 2” taller.  The UV-88 in full carbon is heavier and blade heavy.

I’m still testing and comparing the two. Black project for sure wins with weight and balance. More idiot proof pulling the blade. But the UV-88 does seem to propel me forward with good speed, provided you engage the blade. Any error in not sinking the blade completely and it jumps sideways.

Title: Re: Black Project Paddles
Post by: burchas on May 31, 2019, 05:21:21 AM
Yeah, I have the Surge model. It is the lightest paddle on the market. The blade doesn’t take any adjustment or learning when you paddle one the first time.
How much catch does the Surge have? I’ve ordered the extra small new one (72” square inches maybe?) but I’m worried that I have gone too small. I love my 71 sq inch QB vdrive, but that is a design that is known to have an extremely firm catch.

You may have gone too small. I was considering the Surge 82 vs a while back and ran it against the Mana 82 for few days. It felt smaller and less powerful at the catch.
It was lighter though. Their T-handle is super awesome, I may buy few and try to fit it on my surf paddles. I ended up buying the Mana.
Title: Re: Black Project Paddles
Post by: burchas on May 31, 2019, 05:29:54 AM
But the UV-88 does seem to propel me forward with good speed, provided you engage the blade. Any error in not sinking the blade completely and it jumps sideways.

That sounds like a stark contrast to the V-Drive which is the most idiot proof blade I've ever used. Blade weight is a surprise too. My V-Drive 91 is more than an Ounce
lighter than my Trifecta 86
Title: Re: Black Project Paddles
Post by: Bean on May 31, 2019, 05:49:20 AM
I picked up a Hydro 83 for flat water paddling a couple of months ago and it feels great.  At about 190 now, and still a realitvely low cadence paddler, its a nice match up for me.
Title: Re: Black Project Paddles
Post by: NorthJerzSurfer on May 31, 2019, 07:36:38 AM
I have the Surge 77 and it is great in the right conditions.   it is obnoxiously light.  It is also the largest blade size you can get with the smaller circumference shaft.  Which i feel is its best part. I condired getting an 82 as well- but i felt its to similar to my Wiki 84 Ke Nalu.

im 215 so the 77 is as small as i will go.  Its a very specific use for me.  I use it only on my smallest boards on the bigger days.   I feel it is the best 'surfing' paddle I have owned.  By that- I mean using it on the actual wave. Digging in for cutbacks. Leaning on it for bottom turns etc.  It transitions from side to side and hand to hand faster than my Ke nalus by far.  It also is the fatsest to position, spin etc on my low volume board.

All that said....It will give me a very short burst to get on the wave- but ill never catch anything from the outside with it.   I liken it to 1st gear in my Jeep with the Dana 44 rear end and 4:11 gears.   When you mash the pedal...you'll get slammed to your seat- but top speed is about 3mph :)




Title: Re: Black Project Paddles
Post by: Bean on May 31, 2019, 12:10:39 PM
Thats a good analogy NJS, and maybe add full lockers in the mix.

I've been thinking about getting the Infinity/Black Project paddle as an all-rounder.

https://blackprojectsup.com/2019/02/08/new-infinity-sup-paddles-by-black-project/
Title: Re: Black Project Paddles
Post by: Skate on May 31, 2019, 12:34:00 PM
I have a 88 hydro and I love it. I switched from QB to black project 2 years a go, and I am not going back. My 9 year old daughter has a 71 hydro with a slim shaft and it is an amazing paddle. the new texcarbon shafts are great. I highly recommend picking up a paddle and a fin front them.
Title: Re: Black Project Paddles
Post by: SouthCounty on May 31, 2019, 06:08:12 PM
I have a 88 hydro and I love it. I switched from QB to black project 2 years a go, and I am not going back. My 9 year old daughter has a 71 hydro with a slim shaft and it is an amazing paddle. the new texcarbon shafts are great. I highly recommend picking up a paddle and a fin front them.
Thats the one I am looking at, glad you like it.
Title: Re: Black Project Paddles
Post by: anonsurfer on June 01, 2019, 10:43:32 AM
Anybody have any experience with these? seems like they are making a good push in the sup market

I have the Surge 77 w/ T Handle and Soft Flex Reduced Diameter Shaft.  It took a couple of sessions to get used to the soft flex reduced diameter shaft but it is an awesome paddle.    Mine is cut to 68" and weighs 13oz.   
Title: Re: Black Project Paddles
Post by: Skate on June 03, 2019, 03:22:58 PM
I have a 88 hydro and I love it. I switched from QB to black project 2 years a go, and I am not going back. My 9 year old daughter has a 71 hydro with a slim shaft and it is an amazing paddle. the new texcarbon shafts are great. I highly recommend picking up a paddle and a fin front them.
Thats the one I am looking at, glad you like it.

it is a great paddle.
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