Jimbo wrote on Aug 14^th, 2016 at 5:01pm:

Bottom line: that particular paddle is staying home next time and, unless I find a great deal on an ultra-light 9 footer, my "back-up paddle" will be another lightweight bentshaft.

I'm in the same boat so to speak.  My new (and first bentshaft, first carbon paddle) Zaveral rec paddle has me too enamored to bring my 260 cm. bending branches double this trip.  I was a big fan of the double and would spend hours on the weekends before trips cruising around local lakes.  It's a lot of power and stability in big waves/water but I want a carbon one now.  Guess I got spoiled.  :-/