I tried a kayak paddle in my solo years ago and never went back. Part of it was an old injury that bothered me with a single blade. I find it best to train with a heavier paddle than I may use on a long trip. Many have trouble with getting wet while using a double paddle. My cure for that has been using a longer paddle with the blades in straight alignment. The long length allows keeping the paddle as level as possible so less water runs down the shaft and ends up in your lap. The blades in straight alignment allows water to flow to the bottom lip of the blade which becomes the drip point. This puts the drips back in the lake and not in your lap. A kayaking friend showed me how to use my torso and not my arms to power the paddle. This made long days enjoyable. On narrow streams the double paddle is pushed off the bank when things get too narrow. Since these narrow streams are seldom straight it works great for fighting the wind and current in the switchbacks. For regular lake and river travel I find I have no trouble maintaining my course. It is very easy to alter the strokes in power or number to keep on course in high waves and wind.