This is an effective paddle holder for those who use sit-in kayaks. It's not only the best product for the money, but it's better than paddle ropes costing 3-4 times as much.
It's ingenious in its simplicity: Simply spread the two ends of the circular YakClip around the edge of they kayak cockpit (i.e., the oval-shaped opening in which you sit) and it forms a clamp around the cockpit lip. Once in place, you can push your paddle--without much effort--into the slightly protruding C - shaped holder. (It also has extra (smaller) clamps for things like fishing poles.)
There's enough pressure to keep the paddle in place (unless you knock it off accidentally with a direct hit from your elbow or something). For this reason, and especially because you'll hurt your arm if you brush against the product while paddling, I recommend setting the YakClip either forward or in back of where your arms move while paddling. (Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that ou don't want to scrape your arm against the top! I suppose the device could be covered in rubber or something, but that would add to the cost, and the solution is very simple.)
Other products often involve a rope tied around the paddle and then to the kayak. A common complaint is that despite the hook and loop attachment (also known as "Velcro"), the rope eventually moves and gets in the way of paddling. If you're an inventor type, you might want to find a way to attach something buoyant around your paddle.
You might need to park your paddle while pausing to snap a picture, getting water, a snack, or anything else from a dry sack or other container, when you want to just lay back and enjoy a calm lake, or--ack!--in the event you need to pump water and want to make sure your paddle is secure.
As I don't do sea-kayaking in rough water, I regretfully cannot tell you how well the YakClip holds under these conditions. (Perhaps that information is in one of the other reviews.) However, it should function well in typical lake, protected bay, estuary, slough, and other protected waterways. Delivery was relatively quick and the YakClip was well-packaged.
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 6.81 x 5.67 x 1.5 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 0.05 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 8 x 8 x 8 inches |
| Item Weight | 0.01 Pounds |
| Brand Name | Yakclips |
| Color | Black |
| Material | plastic |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Yakclips |
| Part Number | 852401001076 |
| Size | One size fits most |
