How are paddles measured

In centimeters.

Is it total length or shaft length?  

Looking at paddles online and have found a few random measurements.

Thank you.

Kiaikai -

Yes, paddles are measured in cm and I believe it's total length since blades come in different sizes.

Here are some of the considerations to be weighed when deciding which paddle is best. A more detailed description of each item can be found at the Werner site by following their fit guide (http://www.wernerpaddles.com/fit_guide/).

USAGE - Manufacturers typically do not have a designated "fishing" category, so "touring" is what to look Other categories include:

  - Recreational
  - Whitewater
  - Canoe
  - Kids
  - Stand-up surf

PADDLING ANGLE (low vs. high) - low is most common
BLADE SIZE (small, medium, large) - mid size if most common for touring
SHAFT SHAPE (straight or bent) - bent offers a little better entry into the water and less stress on the wrists, but is more expensive
SHAFT MATERIALS (aluminum, fiberglass, carbon) - go up in price and down in weight as you move from aluminum --> carbon
SHAFT DIAMETER - some vendors offer different sizes depending on the size of your hand
PADDLER HEIGHT - the taller the paddler, the longer the paddle
BOAT WIDTH -  the wider the kayak, the longer the paddle

Hope you (or others) find this useful.

Jeff (a.k.a. Steelerhead)

I have been looking for a 230-240 cm paddle.

 So if  a guy listed a paddle on CL as 8 feet long (total length) it would be a 243.84 cm. Assuming the measurement is a little off it sounds like it would be a 240cm paddle. I assumed it was total length, but I didn't feel like driving out to see the paddle on a hunch.

Thanks, I couldn't find anything about how they were actually measured.