The PA wasn't meant to paddle. It comes with a Mirage Drive as a primary source of propulsion system. The paddle is a backup/ secondary propulsion system that I believe is mainly meant to be used as a way to push off pilings, fine tune your steering in tight areas, and/or to move the PA in a reverse direction. Because or the PA-14's width of 38", it would be nearly impossible/impractical to try to paddle any long distance. I'm not saying it can't be done...It would just be a PIA
I always take the paddle with me on fishing trips, but just for fine tune maneuverability around structures and to back up if need be...I hope that I'd never have to use the Paddle for a backup means of propulsion when out on the water miles from shore. That would be a real PIA...