N102 Asymmetric

Spec

• nylon-glassfibre composite blade material weight
• weight 1200g
• feather angle 45 degrees
• one piece alloy straight shaft with index grip
• one piece glass/epoxy straight shaft
• one piece carbon straight shaft
• one piece carbon/alloy crank shaft
• 4 part split option
• Choice of standard, X-grip or ergo foam grips

Blade

Ainsworth use a tough nylon-glassfibre composite construction for superb durability and performance to give a strong, ‘all round’ paddle. Launched in 2006, the material yields 260 Mpa tensile strength - that’s over double the strength of the nylon 12 used in many other nylon paddles. Ainsworth’s Nylon blade is much stiffer than any other nylon paddles. The shaft is pressed into the blades with hydraulic pressure to a depth of 10cm, ensuring a watertight joint and a continuous feel from shaft to blade tip. The high strength of the material means that the blade can be made lighter.

Shaft

This paddle is available with the following shaft options:

• straight titanium enriched alloy shaft: corrosion resistant alloy specially selected for paddling use.
• straight glass/epoxy prepreg shaft: made with Ainsworth filament wound technology - 30% more strength for the same weight.
• straight carbon shaft: made with Ainsworth filament wound technology - significantly lighter than our glass/epoxy shafts. Click thumbnail image right to see a larger picture.
  
• cranked carbon/alloy shaft: lightweight and strong cranked carbon composite shaft with integral sculpted index grip for greater comfort and a more positive feel.  Click thumbnail image right to see a larger picture.
  
• four part split: glassfibre shaft with multi–angle, salt water resistant fittings. Complete with tough carry bag. Click thumbnail image right to see a larger picture.

Grip

This paddle is available with the following grip options:

• standard grip. Our standard grip is a shrink PVC coating, and all paddles include an index on the control side to give positive blade positioning - especially helpful when setting up for a roll.
  
• X-grip for maximum control. High-tech and light-weight, X-grip has the positive feel of a textured grip, but allows air under the hand to prevent burning in heavy use. Ideal for whitewater. Click thumbnail image right for larger picture (also available with all straight shaft options).
• ergo foam grip for maximum comfort. With the elasticity to mould to the hand, this grip provides a stable base on which to pull, especially suited to touring and sea paddles.  Click thumbnail image right for larger picture (also available with all straight shaft options).

Length

The most important factors in choosing the length for your paddle are your height and the type of kayaking you'll be doing. Use the selector below to help find your ideal paddle length.

The selector is a guide only: personal preference is also an important factor. Other points to consider include:

• In general, the longer the kayak, the longer the paddle.
• People with long backs require longer paddles.
• A longer paddle gives you more support and makes it easier to learn to roll.
• A floaty blade such as the AFT range gives more support and the paddler uses less energy.
• Children require a shorter paddle.

Compare

General purpose paddle comparison table

* A=alloy, G=glass, C=carbon

Warranty

Ainsworth takes pride in creating the strongest, lightest and most durable paddles on the market. Ainsworth is so confident in the performance of its paddles and helmets that it offers a massive 3 year warranty.

The warranty applies from the date of purchase and is restricted to the original purchaser. It covers defects in materials and craftsmanship under normal use. Note that the warranty does not cover ‘edge wear’ on the RTM range of paddles.

Damages due to abuse, negligence or normal wear and tear will be repaired or replaced for a very reasonable charge. For more details, click here.