picking a paddle for my Hobie Outback.

i'm lost.  i use my paddle quite often.  usually standing and paddling looking for life in the shallows.  i also tend to fish weeds that render my pedal-drive useless as well.   AND, it is wild how often i will put a lure into a tree, jussssttt out of reach.  last weekend i was thinking, why dont they make a hook in the end of a paddle?  come to find out, they do!!  in addtion, i sometimes feel i am gonna break my OEM Hobie paddle pushing off in rocks, and docks, etc.

maybe i should upgrade.  the Bending Branches website says i should get a 250cm paddle.  the OEM is 230?  would a 240 be a decent enought length jump?  help?  am i overthinkng this?

The Hobie paddles do break pretty easily, I've broken at least three of them and pieced 2 broken together to still have one but relegated to being a backup paddle for my X-Factor.  240 has been a good length for me overall for paddling.  But on my AI to paddle in-between the outrigger I downsized to a 220.  Getting a lighter paddle can also save effort paddling and make it easier to apply technique.  I have a hooked paddle too, used it to break off the line when I got hung up.

The Hobie paddles do break pretty easily, I've broken at least three of them and pieced 2 broken together to still have one but relegated to being a backup paddle for my X-Factor.  240 has been a good length for me overall for paddling.  But on my AI to paddle in-between the outrigger I downsized to a 220.  Getting a lighter paddle can also save effort paddling and make it easier to apply technique.  I have a hooked paddle too, used it to break off the line when I got hung up.

I think paddle length is a factor of your height and your boat width (ie distance from the water). There are probably some charts somewhere online, REI might have one. Lighter is always better. Worth the cost IMO.

Ah, here you go: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/kayak-paddle.html

Edit--See your note about the bending branches site. 250 sounds long! But idk.......

Have you ever used the 230cm OEM paddle?  That's still the best way to tell of it's too short.  Paddle length is a mixture of your height, the width of the hull, and your paddling style (high- or low- angle).  Charts are nice, but honestly, they don't tell you doodly.

Have you ever used the 230cm OEM paddle?  That's still the best way to tell of it's too short.  Paddle length is a mixture of your height, the width of the hull, and your paddling style (high- or low- angle).  Charts are nice, but honestly, they don't tell you doodly.

all the time!  i have never really been a paddler, so even awkward paddling might be missed by me.  I think 230 feels short.. even and additional 20cm feels like very little.  (holding my fingers 20cm apart right now )
I know I feels short when I stand up to paddle.  so the additional length will be welcomed then. 

just typing out my last post I realized, I probably wouldn't even recognized a 250cm paddle if it was put into my hand. 

I'm not gonna overthink this.  any paddle length will be better that sweeping the water with my hand.  .

I followed Bending Branches website and got a 240 angler type paddle ( I was in between 250 and 240).  The adding length is a significant upgrade that increased paddle efficiency and reduced water splash.  A proper length actually made paddling very satisfying and enjoyable!