Thank you all for your advice.  It was/is very helpful and appreciated.  I plan to do some more demo paddling here at home and see if I can find a paddle on the cheap and the right size.  Previously mentioned was a 9 ft length.  I am 6'4" with long arms and a normal length torso - I know that there are several types of paddling styles (low angle/high angle etc.), but is a 220, 230, 240 cm size my range?  Also, how does paddling with that extended arm motion affect the shoulders of older and younger paddlers?  I'm 36 and have no shoulder injuries yet-knock on wood. I don't know if that is even a valid concern.