Playboating
The Powerhouse was not designed for playboating. That said, most people don’t have playboat specific paddles, so it’s important to have a paddle that will perform adequately for multiple disciplines.
I used the Powerhouse exclusively during two five-week long playboating trips around the Northeast. I found that while it excelled in any downriver environment, the 200-cm length and large blades were tricky to use when I was in a hole or on a wave. I could still perform all my normal tricks, but getting the paddle around to make quick moves was more difficult than with my older Werner Sherpa 194.
The Powerhouse has a more “traditional” cut (or an elongated blade shape), that makes advanced tricks, which involve early engagement of the paddle blade in order to bring your boat around, more difficult than they would be with a playboat-specific blade.
Overall, if you only playboat occasionally, the Powerhouse won’t hold you back, especially if you downsize a centimeter or two from your standard river-running length.
Bottom Line
After over 300 days on the water, the Powerhouse’s blades are significantly smaller than they were right off the rack, but the paddle is still functional. With the exception of park-and-play, the Powerhouse handled everything I threw at it with ease.
The straight shaft has enough flex to accommodate the large paddle blades, and paddlers in good shape who prefer slow cadence strokes will enjoy the power the substantial blades offer.
So if you spend most of your time in a playboat, I’d suggest a blade with slightly less surface area and an updated (read: less elongated), shape. But if you want a powerful, incredibly durable, and affordable paddle for river running / creeking, the Powerhouse should be on your shortlist.