Paddle stuck together - how do I unstick it?

Got sand in the joint and tried pulling it apart one of us on each end - didn't budge. Now what do I do?

I had a paddle stick together last year.  It was frustrating.  Mine was corroded from not taking it apart and rinsing it.  I threw it in the truck bed and stored it assembled.

What worked for me was to spray it w/WD-40 (a lot).  Then I took a wooden mallet and kept tapping the joint until it loosened up.  It took a lot of tapping but it did loosen without any damage to the paddle.

Now I take it apart after EVERY trip and spray a little silicon lube on the joint.  No more problems.

SCWAFISH recommended a product called "Liquid Wrench" but I haven't tried it yet.  The WD-40 did not work for me but I didn't try the tapping.

http://www.gunk.com/lubricants.asp

My Hobie was a demo model from Kayak Connection...the stock Hobie paddle came stuck together, probably due to the same reasons as yours.  I've never been successful in breaking it apart.  Figured I'd eventually replace it with something better so why bother.

I wouldn't just pull, I would twist and pull. twist both ways. the sand will roll over and crunch, you'll get it apart.

J

Strap wrenches will allow you to put more torque on the shaft. Use carefully.

Scott

Got sand in the joint and tried pulling it apart one of us on each end - didn't budge. Now what do I do?

I've had this happen to me a number of times. Tom if you have some one hold one end then twist back and forth they usually come apart. Then take a little #oooo steel wool and clean it finishing with some lubricant.

Soak it in vineager and see what happens.

Well, that should get me started, thanks.  I think it's a graphite shaft.  My son and I, both over 180lbs, pulled and twisted for all we were worth and it didn't give any.  Maybe I'll try tapping and some vinegar first (tho I think it's granite sand), then Corrosion X ( also used to loosen rusty bolts), then strap wrenches.

  You might try the standard trick for separating ferrules on fishing rods - slowly rotate the joined area against a piece of ice for a couple of minutes, then try to separate them.  It always works for me with rods, but I've also heard of some people trying the opposite approach and using very hot water. Either way should give you a little extra clearance, then you can clean up the problem once the paddle's apart.

I got it unstuck. I'm not sure what did the trick - I squirted some Corrosion X (touted as a penentrant )in the holes, tho I'm not sure how much got inside, twisted it, but it didn't budge.  Then I rubbed it all around with an ice cube and twisted and got a little slack then my wife held one blade and shaft and I the other end and then I twisted firmly (but not too hard) and steadily back and forth and got it apart.
  I think it helped that the male end of the joint has some lengthwise slots, so if I could just get the grains of sand to move and drop in those slots, it would free up. I've seen some paddles that don't have those slots, and they stick more easily, and need smoothing with steel wool or fine sandpaper after they are unstuck, or they'll stick without any new sand.   

The ice cube is a good trick, never heard of that, but it makes sense that something would contract or expand and you'd get a little space to maneuver.

I have a one-piece paddle, 

I had the same prob and ran hot hot water over the area for a few minutes. It worked.