Gifted a kayak...now what...

Far, far flung possibility, could the guy have possibly had 2 almost identical paddles and you got the male of one and the female of the other?  Ask me how I know, 3 hr drive and my paddle pieces won't match up........

+1
I had a similar thing happened once.

A short branch and allot of duct tape saved the day.

Agree with dale on getting pressed in, maybe after sitting in excessive heat.  I’d slow heat it over a heat gun to soften the epoxy and slide it back out.

Interesting, I cannot imagine it having slid down being the light kayaking this man did.  Garaged the whole time as well but certainly possible. 

Far, far flung possibility, could the guy have possibly had 2 almost identical paddles and you got the male of one and the female of the other?  Ask me how I know, 3 hr drive and my paddle pieces won't match up........

+1
I had a similar thing happened once.

Yes, if it is a paddle he had used before, it doesn't make sense that it wouldn't fit. You might contact your benefactor first and make sure he doesn't have the same problem in reverse before you cut it.

Hope you sort it out. That is a nice kit!