Kent Twin Paddle

This paddle is my first brand new, out of the box paddle so I have high hopes!

Each paddle has its own 'personality' so it is really down to your own taste as to which paddle is the best for you. My choice was not purely based on cost (for a change) and I only looked at the price of the Kent after reading all the reviews, yes I took a risk and bought without a trial run but we have to sometimes!

The reviews on eham were very good (97 reviews 4.7/5 as of June 2010) apart from two not liking the fact that brass tarnishes (get over it!) and one commenting on the arms sticking but I think that may have been a self build (you can buy a kit) and on correction was still given a five.

Most people rate the paddle as better than the Bencher, but lower than a Begali or Schurr (Scheunemann) but then for the price differential are we surprised? PA0QRB says they come "Pretty darn close" so was to see if the claim was true.

So after hearing good reviews and seeing the price in the UK as below 100 GBP (check around the suppliers there is a big difference) my mind was made up. I ordered from Martin Lynch & Son and it arrived the next day! Unfortunately I was out so I had to wait for the re-delivery.

The box arrived and was very well protected. Inside you get the paddle with cable connected to it but nothing on the other end, fortunately I knew this already and had a 3.5 mm plug allocated for it. For those expecting a nice manual you can read you will be disappointed there isn't one; not a problem as alignment is very self evident and very easy to achieve.

Gap setting is very positive but I can imagine some perfectionist may find it fiddly as the locking nut can turn the setting screw a little but it's really simple and once set they are not going to move. The tension adjustment is a dream, each paddle can be set independently and the adjustment range should suite everybody.

Comparing the build to the Bencher BY-1 is not really fair as mine is 15+ years old and seen some action. The Bencher works well but I would think that even compared to a new one the Bencher is beaten into second place. The BY-1's levers flex slightly, these (the Kent's) are solid brass, no play at all. The BY-1 tension adjustment never really had any range to it and full-on to full-off made no difference to me and it does each paddle equally. You also need a Hex key to adjust the gaps on the BY-1, no tools required here.

If you think I've just rubbished the BY-1, think again! Why are so many in use by so many very good operators and why are they always in adverts for new HF rigs? They are very good and well respected paddles but this paddle is built so well, has easy independent adjustments and needs no special tools so in my mind it is streets ahead already.

I connected it up to the PicoKeyer and gave it a good trial at 15 wpm and chanced 20 wpm to see how I got on, the gap needed reducing and the tension letting off a bit but that was easy.

The key is very responsive and solid, the finger pieces are plastic and do flex away from the brass a fraction of a mm but there doesn't seem to be any sign of 'give'.If it becomes a problem I may add a spot of glue behind them but I can't see it happening.

As you know I'm not a speed merchant, so I need all the help I can get on CW. This paddle certainly performs very well and, I think, exudes a certain confidence that is infectious and just makes you feel better sending. I felt it was reflected in my sending, no errors (unusual for me!) over an hours use on air; it may all be in my head but then that's where it needs to be!

One thing I do use a little - after a long sting sending I sometimes alter the tension. The tension for the key hasn't changed just the ability of my fingers to prefer a lighter touch, on this paddle it is really easy to adjust. When the session is over and a new one starts I need a little more tension just to cater for 'finger nerves' so the tension gets half a twist and I'm good to go - what other paddle can you do this on?

If you are thinking about a new paddle, go straight for this one, it's a really well made paddle which I'm surprised is sold in the same price bracket as the Bencher. If you already have a Begali and need spare to play with - this is great (then can I have your Begali to test?!).