SeaSense 96 in X-II Kayak Paddle Red Black (8673) Red/Black, 96"

Got this 96 inch (240cm) paddle to replace the 230cm (90 inch) Carlisle Magic Mystic paddle that I had (as no stores had the 240cm version available when I purchased my kayak) that I found was too short for use with my wide sit-on-top kayak (after several knuckle smashes on the side of the hull). There are quite a few problems with this paddle compared to my other paddle: the diameter of the shaft is too small for my grip, there is a lot of flex in the shaft, and the blades are flimsier and noisier. This paddle has included foam grips (not movable), but the diameter of the grip with the foam is still smaller than the diameter of the shaft alone on my Magic Mystic, and is uncomfortably small for me to grip. During the catch and power of the stroke, the shaft flexes throughout its entire length and doesn't inspire confidence; I know I have a wide 12' kayak, but the paddle should not flex that much under power. The blades feel thinner and cheaper than my Magic Mystic's blades, and while the catch on the blade is good and silent, the power and release create a lot of unnecessary turbulence and noise that make paddling near wildlife impossible without startling it. This has been relegated to being an emergency back-up paddle that gets stored in the hull of my kayak. I will be ordering the longer 240cm version of the Carlisle Magic Mystic for my primary as it is a much better constructed overall paddle than this SeaSense one.