Solus wrote on Jun 13^th, 2016 at 8:27pm:

After four seasons of use of my 8oz ZRE I think it is probably the best bit of gear I've purchased. Two years ago when my brother agreed to a trip I had to buy another cause I figure he'd be super pissed off if he ever discovered the difference between the Zav and the paddle I stuck him with. Be careful when you set it on the gunwales on breezy days. I always secure it to the canoe (like it was going to be portaged) when in camp.

Yeah, there's a huge weight difference from my Bending Branches wood Expedition Plus.  Good tips on lashing it down.  I'd hate to have it go missing at a campsite.

And ST and Jimbo - I've seen people using them backwards and didn't have the guts to tell them.  I was actually inspired to pull the trigger on this by watching the Bob Volhaber (BeaV) trip videos that are up again on Youtube.  Watching him use a racing stroke as he paddled his Kruger Sea Wind "To, Through, and Around Alaska" was inspiring as heck.  He didn't use a Zaveral but a BB carbon fiber bent shaft.

If you haven't seen those videos it might be worth checking out.
BTW, I'm just about finished with Phil Peterson's book on the life of Verlen Kruger called "All things Are Possible".  What a life and what a story.  I'm so ready for my two weeks in September!