Good evening all. I have a question. Does anyone know how to adjust an aluminium paddle after it has seized up. A friend of mine is about to receive a Naish Nalu 11' 2015 and also the Naish paddle. Problem is, I can't adjust it. I've been able to force it down but not up. I don't want to scratch it on him and I'm running out of paddle to play with. Funnily enough, I too own the same paddle, and was horrified to find out that mine had seized up too. Luckily I have another one so no issues there. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I'm tipping it hasn't actually corroded or permanently adhered together - it's probably just dry salt residue that has blocked the moving parts. Maybe try submerging the whole thing in fresh water (a bath?) for a few hours and see if that helps. I can't imagine how it could make it worse.
Or try pouring boiling water over it.. These adjustably paddles need to be taken apart and rinsed in fresh water after every use.. and possibly even stored apart.. Aluminium paddles seem to be the worst for getting stuck.. If it's adjustable that you want you should consider a better quality carbon version.. A better paddle makes a huge difference to the whole paddling experience.
If its the naish alloy..... you can turn it as you loosen it after clipping out the clips ....drench it in CRC .after the hot water the DJ suggested..
sounds like corrosion or sand.....alloy windsurfing booms have similar problems ...Go carbon ...or pull them apart and wash after use ...every time.
enjoy
nice pic .of your wave .
You might find that it just won't come apart. I had an aluminium Kialoa that got stuck and I tried absolutely everything to unstick it, over a 6-week period. Soaking for days in a variety of fluids, chemicals, lubricants, hot, cold, hot and cold, brute force... Nada. Eventually I drilled a hole through the shaft and inserted a long threaded bolt to allow me to exert some serious twisting force, but the paddle shaft destroyed itself before it budged. I hope you have better luck than I did...
Select to expand quoteArea10 said..
You might find that it just won't come apart. I had an aluminium Kialoa that got stuck and I tried absolutely everything to unstick it, over a 6-week period. Soaking for days in a variety of fluids, chemicals, lubricants, hot, cold, hot and cold, brute force... Nada. Eventually I drilled a hole through the shaft and inserted a long threaded bolt to allow me to exert some serious twisting force, but the paddle shaft destroyed itself before it budged. I hope you have better luck than I did...
+1 on an alloy shaft here. I had to drill a hole through the extension, push an old screw driver through the holes and hammer out the extension. The holes ended up a bit munted but with a bit of filing came right.
Tried drowning it, and also the hot water alas to no avail. Think it's time to drill a hole and see if I can twist it out. Not looking good 
I own a real paddle. It's not carbon but it's a dare sight better than that alloy one. Problem is, it's for a mates birthday and his introduction to SUPing. Not looking good
Sorry if I am telling you how to suck eggs, but the boiling hot water goes on the piece with the bigger diameter (but not right on the joint or you'll heat the other piece too much) to make it expand. You should also use cold water on the piece with the smaller diameter to make it contract. Do it for enough time so the heat can transfer through the metal. And then twist as you pull (but don't burn your hand). Might work if that is not what you tried.
I reckon 1/2 a can of CRC and two mates on each end ..twist and pull ..or tie one end to the house the other to your ute and drive away .
I had similar problem. I couldn't get them apart for 2 weeks. But fresh water every day and some wd40 as well. In the end it just came out.
Thank you everybody for the tips. I'll keep on trying and hopefully it'll pop. Or I'll just use it to hold my towel lol
