we carry one spare paddle per group, a tiny collapsible plastic one that would be horrible to actually paddle with. but it is just in case, and we havent ever needed a spare. i cannot think of a time when youd need a spare RIGHT NOW. plus paddles float if you manage to drop it, and we always do tandem canoes so one paddle should be enough to move the canoe to pick up the lost one.

on a further note, if someone broke one of my paddles, bending branches rock guard tip bent-shafts, i would certainly kill them. therefore i could use their paddle if i needed the spare.